About this Unit
The 317th Field Maintenance Squadron (317th FMS) was a United States Air Force unit primarily assigned to support the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing. Activated during the Cold War era, the squadron provided critical aircraft maintenance and logistical support for C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Stationed at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, the 317th FMS played a vital role in ensuring the operational readiness of airlift missions, including deployments and humanitarian operations. The unit was eventually inactivated and its functions absorbed during Air Force organizational restructuring in the 1990s.
Historical Facts
• Origins: The 317th Field Maintenance Squadron (317th FMS) was an integral support unit of the United States Air Force, primarily responsible for aircraft maintenance and logistics.
• Parent Wing: It was assigned to the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, which was renowned for its airlift operations, especially during the Cold War era.
• Key Aircraft: The squadron provided maintenance for the C-130 Hercules, one of the most versatile and long-serving tactical transport aircraft in military history.
• Stationed at Pope AFB: The 317th FMS was based at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, a key hub for airlift operations in the eastern United States.
• Vietnam War Support: The squadron supported operations during the Vietnam War, ensuring aircraft readiness for critical missions such as troop transport, cargo delivery, and aeromedical evacuation.
• Rapid Deployment: The 317th FMS contributed to the Air Force’s rapid global deployment capability, supporting exercises and real-world operations in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
• Meritorious Unit Awards: Over its history, the squadron and its parent wing received several awards for outstanding service and mission accomplishment.
• Desert Storm Involvement: Members of the 317th FMS played a pivotal maintenance role during Operation Desert Storm, keeping aircraft mission-capable under combat conditions.
• Specialized Skills: The squadron’s personnel were experts in avionics, propulsion, structural repair, and weapons systems maintenance, making them indispensable to flight operations.
• Legacy: Although the 317th FMS was eventually inactivated or redesignated during USAF reorganizations, its commitment to excellence left a lasting legacy in Air Force maintenance history.
