343d Reconnaissance Squadron

343d Reconnaissance Squadron
Squadron RC-135 Rivet Joint on deployment
Active	1943–1946; 1947–1949; 1950-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Reconnaissance and Surveillance
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Offutt Air Force Base
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
343d Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (Approved 25 July 1952)
343d Fighter Squadron World War II emblem
World War II fuselage code	CY

The 343d Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

The 343d flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 15 October 1943 to 21 April 1945.

It conducted aerial photography from 1947–1949 and global strategic reconnaissance from 1950 to 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. On 29 July 1953 a squadron RB-50 temporarily attached to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was shot down by Soviet fighters about ninety miles south of Vladivostok. The Soviet Union did not deny the plane's location was over water, but claimed that the bomber had twice flown over Soviet territory and fired on their MiGs, who then returned fire defensively.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.