Lineage. Constituted 817 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943. Activated on 20 Sep 1943. Redesignated 817 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. Sep 1944. Inactivated on 25 Sep 1945. Redesignated 817 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953. Redesignated: 817 Troop Carrier Squadron on 8 Dec 1965; 817 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Aug 1967. Inactivated on 15 Jun 1970. Redesignated 817 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, and converted to provisional status, on 12 Jun 2002.
Assignments. 483 Bombardment Group, 20 Sep 1943-25 Sep 1945. 483 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jan 1953; 483 Troop Carrier Wing, 8 Dec 1958; 315 Air Division, 25 Jun 1960; 374 Troop Carrier (later, 374 Tactical Airlift) Wing, 8 Aug 1966-15 Jun 1970. Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 12 Jun 2002.
Stations. Ephrata AAB, WA, 20 Sep 1943; MacDill Field, FL, 7 Nov 1943-2 Mar 1944; Sterparone Airfield, Italy, 9 Apr 1944; Pisa, Italy, 27 Jun-25 Sep 1945. Ashiya AB, Japan, 1 Jan 1953; Naha AB, Okinawa, 25 Jun 1960-15 Jun 1970.
Commanders. Unkn, 20 Sep 1943-3 Oct 1943; Capt John C. Reid, 4 Oct 1943; Maj William A. Lanford, 11 Dec 1943; Maj John J. Gorman, 8 May 1944; Maj William J. Kilpatrick Jr., Nov 1944; Maj Darrel G. Burgeson, 7 May 1945-Sep 1945. Maj Richard E. Knie, c. Jan 1953; Maj Paul J. Buckley, 1953; Lt Col Charles B. Westbrook, 1953; Lt Col Harry V. Bankard, 1955; Lt Col George D. Samson, 1958; Lt Col Frank Hatten, 1960; Lt Col George J. Nied, 1961; Lt Col George F. Owen, 1 Feb 1962; Lt Col Ralph S. Saunders, 11 Feb 1964; Maj Theodore P. Crichton, Aug 1964; Lt Col Warren G. Abolt, 1966; Lt Col George M. Dwight Jr., by Mar 1968-15 Jun 1970.
Aircraft. B-17, 1943-1945. C-119, 1953-1959; C-130, 1958-1970.
Operations. Combat in MTO and ETO, 12 Apr 1944-26 Apr 1945. Transported redeployed personnel from Pisa, Italy, to Casablanca, French Morocco, May-Sep 1945. Transported troops, supplies, and equipment to, and evacuated casualties from, Korea, 1953. Continued flying airlift missions in the Far East after the Korean War. In 1965, the squadron began rotating aircraft and crews to South Vietnam for tactical airlift missions, such as transporting combat troops, dropping paratroops, lifting and dropping supplies and equipment, and dropping leaflets.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Korean War: Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer 1953. Vietnam: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter/Spring; Sanctuary Counteroffensive.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations (Germany): 18 Jul 1944; 24 Mar 1945. Presidential Unit Citation: Vietnam, 8 Aug 1967-7 Aug 1968. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 Sep 1968-15 Jun 1970. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 6 May 1953-10 Sep 1954; 1 Jan-30 Jun 1961; 1 Jul 1964-30 Apr 1966; 8 Aug 1966-7 Aug 1967. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, [Jan]-27 Jul 1953. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Sep 1969-15 Jun 1970.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 12 Jun 2002.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 15 Jun 1970.
Supersedes statement prepared on 26 Jan 1968.
Emblem. Approved on 19 Aug 1958.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.
Approved by Judy G. Endicott.