Photo By Airman 1st Class Jade Caldwell | U.S. Army paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division jump from a C-130J Super...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Flying a C-130J Super Hercules through freezing black, early-morning skies, the 40th Airlift Squadron airdrops U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division paratroopers in desolate, snow-ridden landscapes near Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 22, 2025. This partnership during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 25-02 annual Arctic deployment training exercise unites two units that share a rich Indo-Pacific history beginning 80 years ago.
During World War II, the 317th Troop Carrier Group, predecessor to the 317th Airlift Wing, airdropped 11th AD paratroopers over Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines in support of ground operations to liberate Japanese-occupied Manila, the Philippines capital. This joint operation was influential to winning in the Pacific Theater. It allowed the U.S. to deliver air and ground support to rescue prisoners of war while simultaneously driving the Japanese Empire from the Philippines.
While the terrain has changed, the bond the 317th AW and 11th AD forged in World War II remains, demonstrating that the Department of Defense fights as one joint force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The Army is based on heritage,” said U.S. Army Maj. John Vetter, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment battalion officer. “We go way back to our beginnings. Really, looking at World War II, we were out of the 101st AD and we’ve been reflagged throughout our history. So, when you talk about the 11th AD, we start talking through our operations in the Philippines during World War II. Now, the 40th AS and the 11th AD, we’re back together in the Indo-Pacific again, one of the most important regions as laid out in the National Defense Strategy.”
The Philippines was a contested battleground during the Pacific War, where both the Japanese Empire, and the U.S. aimed to use the islands for strategic leverage. In 1941, the Empire of Japan invaded the Philippines only hours after attacking Pearl Harbor. Japanese armed forces swiftly took Manila and the remaining Allied forces retreated south to the Bataan Peninsula where they were captured.
Two years later, Feb. 3, 1945, the 317th TCG and the 11th AD airdropped into Tagaytay Ridge, southern Luzon, to liberate Manila and rescue the POWs captured by the Japanese Empire. The 317th TCG carried out five mass Pacific airdrops, the last of which was the final mass airdrop of World War II, where the 11th AD landed in Aparri, northern Luzon, on June 23 to eliminate any remaining Japanese Empire armed forces.
During JPMRC 25-02, the 317th AW and 11th AD continued the same spirit of cooperation. This time, instead of the humid jungles of the Pacific, the 40th AS and 11th AD found themselves conducting joint operations in the limited daylight hours, extreme cold weather conditions, unpredictable Arctic winds and iced-over flightlines of Alaska. The exercise tested their ability to operate in one of the world’s harshest environments, ultimately building the skills and connections necessary to provide a rapid, reliable response to future Arctic contingencies and operations.
“For JPMRC 25-02, the 11th AD was our primary user; we directly facilitated their Joint Forcible Entry into their simulated objective areas for their ground exercise,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Elizabeth Mahoney, 40th AS pilot. “The 40th gained a lot out of this exercise. We gained more exposure to extreme cold weather conditions and remade partnerships with the 11th AD. The 40th AS hasn't flown here in quite some time and the 11th AD is phenomenal to work with, so we are looking forward to working with them in the future. This experience has opened a lot of doors for us to come back and fly in this fantastic training environment.”
With the conclusion of JPMRC 25-02, the legacy between the 317th AW and 11th AD continues, showcasing their readiness to succeed in the challenges of tomorrow. Whether in the jungles of the Philippines or the icy expanse of the Arctic, the bond between Airmen and Soldiers remains an unbroken testament to the 317th AW and 11th AD’s shared sacrifice, resilience and unwavering commitment to duty.
“The Army relies on joint operations to execute objectives like these,” said Vetter. “We don’t have the same tactical airlift capabilities as the 40th AS. We have our rotary wing, but if we need to cover more distance like from Alaska to other areas in the Indo-Pacific, that’s where the Air Force supports us. The bottom line is that we work together to accomplish the mission.”
The 317th AW stands ready to respond to any conflict with time-honored tactical airlift capabilities, strengthened by over 80 years of global partnerships and Airmen who “Gain By Hazard” to uphold the heritage and standards of the U.S. Air Force and Air Mobility Command.
| Date Taken: | 01.22.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.10.2025 08:55 |
| Story ID: | 492304 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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