Description
Japanese made by Tiger Embroidery, Okinawa, Japan. 3.25 inches – 86mm
343rd RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON (ACC)
Lineage. Constituted as 343 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine), on 21 Jan 1943. Activated on 1 Feb 1943. Redesignated as: 343 Fighter Squadron, Twin Engine, on 20 Aug 1943; 343 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 5 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 20 Aug 1946. Redesignated as 343 Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Mapping, on 5 Feb 1947. Activated on 24 Feb 1947. Redesignated as 343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Mapping, on 29 Jun 1948. Inactivated on 14 Oct 1949. Redesignated as 343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Electronics, on 27 Oct 1950. Activated on 1 Nov 1950. Redesignated as: 343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, on 15 Jul 1954; 343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron on 16 Aug 1966; 343 Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.
Assignments. 55 Fighter Group, 1 Feb 1943-20 Aug 1946. 55 Reconnaissance (later, 55 Strategic Reconnaissance) Group, 24 Feb 1947-14 Oct 1949 (attached to 55 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 19 Jul-26 Oct 1948). 55 Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 1 Nov 1950 (attached to 91 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Nov 1950-3 Jan 1951; 55 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 4 Jan 1951-15 Jun 1952); 55 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 16 Jun 1952; 55 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991-.
Stations. McChord Field, WA, 1 Feb-22 Aug 1943; Nuthampstead, England, 16 Sep 1943; Wormingford, England, 16 Apr 1944; Kaufbeuren, Germany, c. 20 Jul 1945; Giebelstadt, Germany, 30 Apr-20 Aug 1946. MacDill Field (later, AFB), FL, 24 Feb 1947; Topeka (later, Forbes) AFB, KS, 30 Jun 1948-14 Oct 1949. Barksdale AFB, LA, 1 Nov 1950; Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, 3 Jan 1951; Forbes AFB, KS, 10 Oct 1952 (deployed at Benguerir AB, French Morocco, 30 May 1955-8 Aug 1955); Offutt AFB, NE, 16 Aug 1966-.
Aircraft. P-38, 1943-1944; P-51, 1944-1946; P-80, 1946. F-2, 1947; RF-2, 1947; FB-17, 1947-1948; F-9, 1947-1948; F-2, 1948; RB-17, 1948-1949; RB-29, 1948-1949; TB-29, 1949. RB-29, 1950-1951; RB-50, 1951-1954; C-47, 1953-1954; LB-29, 1954; KB-29, 1954; RB-47, 1954-1967; ERB-47 (later, EB-47), 1957-1967; RC-135, 1967-.
Operations. Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 15 Oct 1943-21 Apr 1945. Aerial photography 1947-1949. Worldwide strategic reconnaissance 1950-1979. From 1979 provided worldwide strategic reconnaissance support, which included Grenada, 1983; Libya, 1986; and Southwest Asia 1990-1991. Trained and maintained electronic warfare (EW) officers who operated sensors that collected intelligence data aboard RC-135 aircraft, 1979-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: European Theater of Operations (ETO), 3-13 Sep 1944; Germany, 19 Feb 45. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2006; 1 Jun 2006-31 May 2007; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2008. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 5 Nov 1950-[15 Apr 1954]; Jul 1956-Nov 1957; 1 Jul 1963-30 Jun 1964; 1 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1967; 1 Jul 1972-30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1974-30 Jun 1976; 1 Jul 1976-30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1987-30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1991; 1 Jul 1992-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-31 Jul 1995; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001.
Emblem. Approved on 25 Jul 1952; newest rendition approved on 3 Jun 2003.