<p>The 917th was designated a Special Operations Group with assignment to the 434th SOW from February 1972, and operated the A-37B until October 1973 when the unit became a Tactical Fighter Group. The 917th converted to the A-10A in October 1980 with, the 47th TFS assigned. The 47th was joined in September 1983 by the 46th TFTS as the AFRes A-10 training unit, with the 917th being upgraded to Wing standard in July 1987 and replacing the 434th TFW. The A-10As of the 46th TFTS were retired and the squadron was inactivated in September 1993. The unit was selected to be the sole Air Force Reserve B-52H operator, with the 93rd BS formed at the end of 1993.