343d Reconnaissance Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 343d Reconnaissance Squadron


caption= 343d Reconnaissance Squadron Patch
dates= 1 February 1943 - 20 August 1946
24 February 1947 - 14 October 1949
1 November 1950 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Reconnaissance and Surveillance
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
8th Air Force
55th Wing
55th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Offutt Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
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nickname=
patron=
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The 343d Reconnaissance Squadron (343 RS) is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Mission

History

The 343d flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from, 15 October 1943-21 April 1945. It conducted aerial photography from 1947-1949 and global strategic reconnaissance from 1950-1979. Since 1979 the squadron has provided worldwide strategic reconnaissance support, including operations in Grenada in 1983, Libya in 1986, and Southwest Asia from 1990-1991. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0343recos.html AFHRA 343 RS Page] ]

=Operations=

*World War II
*Operation Urgent Fury
*Operation El Dorado Canyon
*Operation Desert Storm

=Lineage=

*343d Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) (1943)
*343d Fighter Squadron, Twin Engine (1943 - 1944)
*343d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (1944 - 1947)
*343d Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Mapping (1947 - 1948)
*343d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Mapping (1948 - 1950)
*343d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Electronics (1950 - 1954)
*343d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium (1954 - 1966)
*343d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (1966 - 1991)
*343d Reconnaissance Squadron (1991 - Present)

=Assignments=

*55th Fighter Group (1943 - 1946)
*55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group (1947 - 1949)
*55th Wing (1950 - Present)
**Attached: 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1 November 1950 - 3 January 1951)

=Bases stationed=

*McChord Field, Washington (1943)
*RAF Nuthampstead, England (1943 - 1944)
*RAF Wormingford, England (1944 - 1945)
*Kaufbeuren, Germany (1945 - 1946)
*Giebelstadt, Germany (1946)
*MacDill Air Force Base, Florida (1947 - 1948)
*Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas (1948 - 1949)
*Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (1950 - 1951)
*Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico (1951 - 1952)
*Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas (1952 - 1966)
**Deployed: Benguerir Air Base, French Morocco (30 May - 30 August 1955)
*Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska (1966 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*P-38 Lightning (1943 - 1944)
*P-51 Mustang (1944 - 1946)
*P-80 Shooting Star (1946)
*F-2 Expeditor (1947, 1948)
*FB-17 Flying Fortress (1947 - 1948)
*F-9 Flying Fortress (1947 - 1948)
*RB-17 Flying Fortress (1948 - 1949)
*RB-29 Superfortress (1948 - 1949, 1950 - 1951)
*TB-29 (1949)
*RB-50 (1951 - 1954)
*C-47 Skytrain (1953 - 1954)
*LB-29 (1954)
*KB-29 (1954)
*RB-47 (1954 - 1967)
*EB-47 (1957 - 1967)
*RC-135 (1967 - 1979)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0343recos.html AFHRA 343d Reconnaissance Squadron History]

ee also