It was activated but unmanned from 1947–1948.
 When reactivated again in the 1960 it resupplied Distant Early Warning Line sites in Northern Canada and radar sites in Greenland.
 Parts of the squadron deployed to South Vietnam from 1967-1968 to provide tactical airlift.
 It provided intratheater airlift within Alaska including support to forward operating bases, airland/airdrop of troops, equipment and supplies, and Search and rescue as required.
 It provided Lockheed C-130 Hercules crews for Pacific airlift to Southwest Asia, August–November 1990.

Redesignated the 517th Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1992, it has provided worldwide combat airdrop, tactical air/land, operational support airlift, airlift for theater deployed forces and resupply of remote Alaskan long-range radar sites in support of Pacific Air Forces.
 It has provided continuous rotational airlift and airdrop support in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004.
 The 517th, flying C-130H1s, was among first United States units to participate in relief efforts following the 2004 Asian tsunami that occurred on 26 December 2004.
It was activated but unmanned from 1947–1948.  When reactivated again in the 1960 it resupplied Distant Early Warning Line sites in Northern Canada and radar sites in Greenland.  Parts of the squadron deployed to South Vietnam from 1967-1968 to provide tactical airlift.  It provided intratheater airlift within Alaska including support to forward operating bases, airland/airdrop of troops, equipment and supplies, and Search and rescue as required.  It provided Lockheed C-130 Hercules crews for Pacific airlift to Southwest Asia, August–November 1990.
Redesignated the 517th Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1992, it has provided worldwide combat airdrop, tactical air/land, operational support airlift, airlift for theater deployed forces and resupply of remote Alaskan long-range radar sites in support of Pacific Air Forces.  It has provided continuous rotational airlift and airdrop support in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004.  The 517th, flying C-130H1s, was among first United States units to participate in relief efforts following the 2004 Asian tsunami that occurred on 26 December 2004.
517th Airlift Squadron