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Information About

17th Airlift Squadron




The 17th Airlift Squadron is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel , who serves as head of the squadron and the pilots. The Chief Loadmaster is in charge of the loadmasters, and the First Sergeant takes charge of the few support military personnel and civilians working in the squadron.

The 17th was responsible for being the first unit to set up forward deployed C-17 Staging operations, in the start of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM , creating the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (EAS) .


LINEAGE

Constituted 17th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 Feb 1942. Activated on 27 Apr 1942. Redesignated 17th Transport Squadron on 19 Mar 1943. Disbanded on 31 Oct 1943. Reconstituted, and redesignated 17th Air Transport Squadron, Medium, on 22 Mar 1954. Activated on 18 Jul 1954. Redesignated: 17th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 18 Jun 1958; 17th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 8 Apr 1969. Activated on 1 Aug 1987. Redesignated 17th Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1991.


ASSIGNMENTS

Army Air Forces Ferrying Command (later, Air Transport Command), 27 Apr 1942; 11th Ferrying (later, 11th Transport) Group, 28 Jul 1942–31 Oct 1943. 1608th Air Transport Group , 18 Jul 1954; 1608th Air Transport Wing , 18 Jan 1963; 437th Military Airlift Wing , 8 Jan 1966–8 Apr 1969. 437th Military Airlift Wing, 1 Aug 1987; 437th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1991–.


STATIONS

Hamilton Field , CA, 27 Apr 1942–31 Oct 1943. Charleston AFB , SC, 18 Jul 1954–8 Apr 1969. 1 Aug 1987–.


AIRCRAFT

C-46 , 1942–1943; C-47 , 1942–1943. C-54 , 1954–1958; C-124 , 1958–1969. C-141 , 1987–2001; C-17 , 2002-.


OPERATIONS

World War II: Air Transport and aircraft delivery to the Pacific Theater. Worldwide Airlift beginning 1954. Missions to Southeast Asia, 1964–1969. Supported operations in Panama, 18–29 Dec 1989, and Southwest Asia, Aug 1990–Dec 1991.


AWARDS AND DECORATIONS


Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.


Campaign Streamers

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.


Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

Panama, 1989–1990.


Decorations



EMBLEM

On an Air Force Blue globe, grid lines White, issuing from the top of a White scroll, two hands flesh tone, winged at the wrists White, bearing supplies or cargo Air Force golden Yellow; outlines and details Air Force Blue throughout. MOTTO: ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. Approved 27 Oct 1959 (K 11458).


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