317th Airlift Wing
The 317th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force tactical airlift organization based at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, operating C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 317th Airlift Wing is an active United States Air Force airlift formation headquartered at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. It belongs to Air Mobility Command through Eighteenth Air Force and operates as a tenant organization at Dyess, whose installation-level host command is the 7th Bomb Wing of Air Force Global Strike Command. The unit’s core mission is tactical air mobility: transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies; conducting air-land and airdrop missions; supporting combat recovery and air mobility command-and-control activities; and providing specialized assistance during humanitarian and contingency operations. The organization traces its lineage to the 317th Troop Carrier Wing, activated in Japan in August 1948. Its early postwar role involved troop-carrier and courier operations in the Far East. During the Berlin Blockade, the wing moved from Japan to West Germany and participated in the Berlin Airlift from January through July 1949. Afterward it became a major United States Air Forces in Europe theater-airlift organization, operating C-119 Flying Boxcars and later other transport aircraft in support of U.S., NATO, and United Nations activities, exercises, and humanitarian missions. The unit moved through several organizational and geographic phases during the Cold War. It served in France, returned to the United States, and became associated with Tactical Air Command’s worldwide C-130 operations. At Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, it supported airborne training and replacement training for transport crews, including instruction involving C-123 Provider aircraft for U.S. and Republic of Vietnam personnel. After reassignment to Military Airlift Command in 1974, the unit developed experience with adverse-weather aerial delivery systems and continued to combine airlift training with operational deployments. The 317th supported a broad range of missions during the 1980s and early 1990s. These included the evacuation of American citizens during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, exercises and special airlift missions, airborne training with Army forces, heavy-equipment delivery testing, and operations connected with the invasion of Panama. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the unit transported people and materiel during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. It subsequently supported humanitarian airlift missions to Bosnia and Somalia and delivered relief assistance after Hurricane Andrew. The wing was inactivated at Pope in July 1993 during post-Cold War force restructuring. The organization returned in group form in April 1997 after the transfer of U.S.-based C-130 forces to Air Mobility Command. As the 317th Airlift Group, it resumed worldwide deployment of personnel and aircraft for air-land delivery, airdrop, maintenance, recovery, operational support, and deployable command-and-control functions. Its post-2001 operational history included a prolonged cycle of deployments connected with the global war on terrorism, including support for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. From December 20, 2003, through March 20, 2013, the group maintained 3,378 consecutive days of service at home and abroad. The formation completed delivery of its 28th and final C-130J Super Hercules in July 2013, making it, at that time, the world’s largest C-130J unit. It also supported missions in Djibouti and the Horn of Africa, including medical evacuation, disaster relief, humanitarian airlift, airdrop activity, and movement of the East Africa Response Force. Personnel deployed to Dakar, Senegal, in support of Operation United Assistance during the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. On July 6, 2017, the group was redesignated as the 317th Airlift Wing, with the concurrent establishment of its operations and maintenance groups. The active wing continues to fly the C-130J and is organized around the 317th Operations Group and 317th Maintenance Group.
History
The 317th Airlift Wing began as the 317th Troop Carrier Wing, activated in Japan on August 18, 1948. It initially performed troop-carrier and courier duties in the Far East. The Berlin Blockade led to its movement from Japan to West Germany, where it joined the Berlin Airlift from January 9 through July 31, 1949. After that operation, the unit became a U.S. Air Forces in Europe theater-airlift formation, supporting American, NATO, and United Nations activities. During the 1950s and 1960s, the unit operated several generations of transport aircraft, including the C-119 Flying Boxcar and C-130 Hercules. It moved to France in 1957, returned to the United States in 1964, and became increasingly involved in Tactical Air Command’s worldwide C-130 airlift and airborne-training programs. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, it also supported replacement training for Pacific Air Forces C-130 crews and C-123 combat-crew training for American and South Vietnamese personnel. The wing moved to Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, in 1971 and transferred to Military Airlift Command in 1974. It pioneered operational use of adverse-weather aerial delivery system equipment in Southeast Asia and later trained crews in that capability for European C-130 operations. During the 1980s and early 1990s it combined routine channel and special-assignment airlift with exercises, national competitions, airborne-force training, heavy-equipment delivery testing, and overseas rotations. Its operational record included support to Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and the airborne assault and follow-on airlift associated with Operation Just Cause in Panama. The unit transported troops, equipment, and supplies during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. It later participated in humanitarian missions to Bosnia and Somalia and helped move relief personnel and supplies after Hurricane Andrew. The wing was inactivated in July 1993 as the Air Force reduced and reorganized its forces after the Cold War. The organization was reactivated as the 317th Airlift Group on April 1, 1997. The reactivation followed the transfer of U.S.-based C-130 aircraft to Air Mobility Command and restored the 317th’s role in combat delivery, air-land operations, airdrop, maintenance, recovery, operations support, and expeditionary command and control. From December 2003 through March 2013, the group maintained a continuous 3,378-day deployment record while supporting U.S. operations worldwide. The group transitioned to the C-130J Super Hercules and received its 28th and final aircraft in July 2013. Subsequent deployments included Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, where personnel supported Horn of Africa operations, medical evacuation, disaster relief, humanitarian missions, airdrop activity, and movement of the East Africa Response Force. In 2014–2015, personnel also supported Operation United Assistance and the U.S. Ebola-response effort from Dakar, Senegal. On July 6, 2017, the group was redesignated the 317th Airlift Wing. Its current structure includes the 317th Operations Group, with the 39th and 40th Airlift Squadrons and the 317th Operations Support Squadron, and the 317th Maintenance Group, including the 317th Maintenance Squadron and 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
- 2017
Redesignated as 317th Airlift Wing
[1]The group became a wing on July 6, with operations and maintenance groups established at the same time.
- 2013
C-130J fleet completed
[1]The group received its 28th and final C-130J Super Hercules on July 25.
- 1997
Reactivated as 317th Airlift Group
[1]The organization returned to active service as a group on April 1.
- 1993
Inactivated at Pope Air Force Base
[1]The wing was inactivated during post-Cold War Air Force restructuring.
- 1991
Desert Shield and Desert Storm support
[1]The wing transported forces, equipment, and supplies to Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.
- 1983
Operation Urgent Fury
[1]The unit provided airlift, combat-control, medical-evacuation, and security-police support during the Grenada operation.
- 1974
Transferred to Military Airlift Command
[1]The wing entered Military Airlift Command and expanded its operational and training role in tactical air mobility.
- 1967
Redesignated 317th Tactical Airlift Wing
[1]The unit adopted the tactical-airlift designation as its C-130-centered mission developed.
- 1957
Move to France
[1]The wing moved to France and continued theater airlift support for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, NATO, and United Nations activities.
- 1949
Berlin Airlift participation
[1]The wing moved from Japan to West Germany and supported the Berlin Airlift from January through July.
Products and positioning
A global tactical airlift and expeditionary mobility organization focused on rapid delivery of personnel, equipment, supplies, and humanitarian assistance using the C-130J Super Hercules.
Military transport aircraft · 2010
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
The C-130J Super Hercules is the wing’s current principal aircraft. It supports tactical airlift, short-field air-land operations, airdrop, humanitarian delivery, medical evacuation support, and expeditionary logistics. The 317th completed delivery of 28 aircraft in 2013, giving it one of the world’s largest C-130J fleets at that time.
Military transport aircraft · 1957
C-130 Hercules
Earlier C-130 Hercules variants formed the backbone of the unit’s tactical-airlift mission from the late 1950s through the group’s reactivation period and remained central to its operations until the transition to the C-130J.
Military transport aircraft · 1952
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The C-119 was used during the unit’s 1950s theater-airlift period for troop transport and logistical support in Europe and adjacent operational areas.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Horn of Africa deployment
Djibouti · East Africa
Personnel deployed to Camp Lemonnier and formed the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in support of Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa.
Outcome. The deployment supported medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, airdrop, and forward movement of the East Africa Response Force.
- 2014Operation United Assistance
Senegal · West Africa
Airmen deployed to Dakar as part of the U.S. military contribution to the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Outcome. The returning personnel rejoined the group in February 2015 after supporting the containment response.
- 2003Global war on terrorism deployments
Middle East · Central Asia · Worldwide
Beginning December 20, 2003, the group entered a continuous deployment cycle supporting combat and expeditionary airlift requirements.
Outcome. The continuous service period lasted 3,378 days and ended March 20, 2013.
- 1992Operations Provide Promise and Provide Relief
Bosnia · Somalia
The unit conducted humanitarian airlift missions carrying relief workers and supplies to Bosnia and Somalia.
Outcome. The missions delivered personnel and relief material in support of international humanitarian operations.
- 1991Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
Southwest Asia
The wing transported personnel, equipment, and supplies after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
Outcome. The unit contributed tactical airlift capacity to the coalition response and combat campaign.
- 1983Operation Urgent Fury
Grenada
The unit supported the evacuation and rescue of American citizens and provided airlift, combat-control, medical-evacuation, and security support.
Outcome. The operation removed U.S. citizens and supported the broader U.S. intervention in Grenada.
- 1949Berlin Airlift
Germany · Europe
The wing moved from Japan to West Germany during the Soviet blockade and flew airlift missions supporting isolated West Berlin.
Outcome. The unit completed its participation when the airlift period ended in July 1949.
Brand decisions
2017
Upgrade from group to wing statusStrategyBackground
The Air Force reorganized the unit to reflect its scale and operational structure at Dyess Air Force Base.
Action taken
The 317th Airlift Group was redesignated the 317th Airlift Wing on July 6, with operations and maintenance groups established concurrently.
Aftermath
The wing continued its C-130J mission through the 317th Operations Group and 317th Maintenance Group.
2013
Completion of C-130J fleet transitionOtherBackground
The group was modernizing its tactical-airlift fleet with the newer C-130J Super Hercules.
Action taken
It accepted its 28th and final C-130J on July 25.
Aftermath
The group became the largest C-130J unit in the world at that time and continued operating a modernized tactical-airlift fleet.
1997
Reactivation as an Airlift GroupStrategyBackground
The transfer of U.S.-based C-130 aircraft to Air Mobility Command created the basis for restoring the 317th organization after its 1993 inactivation.
Action taken
The Air Force reactivated the organization as the 317th Airlift Group on April 1, 1997.
Aftermath
The group resumed worldwide tactical-airlift, airdrop, maintenance, recovery, and operational-support missions.
Recent events
- 2017
317th Airlift Group is redesignated as a wing[1]
Leadership change
The organization was upgraded from group to wing status, with the 317th Operations Group and 317th Maintenance Group established concurrently.
- 2015
317th personnel return from Operation United Assistance[1]
Other
Airmen returning from Dakar, Senegal, had supported the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as part of the 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron.
- 2014
317th Airlift Group supports operations from Djibouti[1]
Other
Crews and aircraft deployed to Camp Lemonnier to form the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and support Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa missions.
- 2013
317th Airlift Group completes 3,378 consecutive days of service[1]
Other
The group concluded a continuous deployment period that began in December 2003 and covered operations at home and abroad in support of U.S. combat and expeditionary commitments.
- 2013
317th receives its 28th and final C-130J Super Hercules[1]
Product generation
Completion of aircraft deliveries gave the group a fleet of 28 C-130J aircraft and recognition as the largest C-130J unit in the world at that time.
Sources1 sources
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