317th Airlift Squadron The 317th Airlift Squadron ( 317 AS ) is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base , South Carolina . It operates C - 17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide . It continues the histories of three squadrons with airlift missions that bear the number 317 . Mission . The mission of the 317th Airlift Squadron is to recruit , train , and support combat ready aircrews in order to meet global taskings . History . World War II . The 317th was first activated as a transport squadron during World War II and airlifted cargo and mail for the Eighth Air Force within the United Kingdom from 1943 - 1944 . The squadron ' s second activation was as a troop carrier unit . After training in the United States , it moved overseas and airlifted troops and cargo in India and Burma from 11 November 1944 to about August 1945 . Through its first eight months in theater , the squadron flew Chinese troops , horses , and mules over The Hump , air dropped supplies , and evacuated wounded . The squadron arrived in theater at a time when British troops were on the offensive in the Chindwin Valley . Because only a few forward airfields were available , a large amount of supplies for these troops had to be airdropped to them . The squadron also airlanded at the forward airfields and evacuated wounded aiding the ground troops in the successful outcome of the campaign . In December 1944 , a decision was made to airlift an entire Chinese division and all of its equipment over The Hump to respond to the Japanese capture of Kweilin , which threatened the lifeline to China . The 317th , along with other transport squadrons , spent most of its efforts until 6 January 1945 in supporting this operation , for which it received commendations from the commanding generals of Army Air Forces , India Burma Theater and Tenth Air Force . The squadron then turned its efforts toward Burma , while its glider section trained British glider pilots . In February , planning was made for glider operations from Sinthe to seize airfields in the Meiktila area . However , British forces seized the airstrip at Thabutkon and after one of the squadron ' s gliders had landed to inspect the field the squadron began operations to airlift an Indian brigade into the field . For this assault landing the squadron was awarded an arrowhead for its campaign ribbon . In April , the squadron glider section landed eight gliders loaded with engineering equipment into the Lewe airfield to level the field for aircraft operation . An attack the following day by Nakajima Ki - 43 " Oscar " fighters resulted in the destruction of five of the gliders . This operation earned the squadron a second arrowhead . In May 1945 , British and Indian forces had driven forward and were closing in on Rangoon . It was determined to conduct an airborne assault to the south of Rangoon to capture or destroy Japanese gun positions . The 317th dropped Gurkha paratroopers at Elephant Point in the first combat airdrop in Asia . The squadron converted from a commando unit in September and provided aerial transportation for US and allied units in China briefly after the war until November 1945 . Viet Nam War Era . The squadron was again activated as a special operations airlift unit at Hurlburt Field with a mission of training C - 123 Provider aircrews for combat in the Viet Nam War in 1964 . In 1966 , the 317th moved to England AFB and a few months later converted to training crews involved in other forms of special air warfare until 1973 . Present Day . Since reactivation in the Air Force Reserve in the spring of 1992 , the squadron has flown worldwide airlift missions . It flew humanitarian airlift missions to Washington DC and New York City , NY , after the terrorist attack on the US , 11 Sep 2001 . Lineage . 317th Transport Squadron 317th Troop Carrier Squadron 317th Airlift Squadron From : Stations . From : Decorations . Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Aircraft operated . From :