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.
Constituted as the 343 Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 21 January 1943
Activated on 1 February 1943
Redesignated
343 Fighter Squadron, Twin Engine on 20 August 1943
Redesignated
343 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 5 September 1944
Inactivated on 20 August 1946
Redesignated 343 Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Mapping on 5 February 1947
Activated on 24 Feb 1947
Redesignated
343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Mapping on 29 June 1948
Inactivated on 14 October 1949
Redesignated 343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Electronics on 27 October 1950
Activated on 1 November 1950
Redesignated
343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium on 15 July 1954
Redesignated
343 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron on 16 August 1966
Redesignated
343 Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 September 1991
55th Fighter Group, 1 February 1943 – 20 August 1946
55th Reconnaissance Group (later 55 Strategic Reconnaissance Group), 24 February 1947 – 14 October 1949
Attached to 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 19 July - 26 October 1948
55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 1 November 1950
Attached to 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing until 3 January 1951
Attached to 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing after 4 January 1951
55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 16 June 1952
55th Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – present
World War II
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation El Dorado Canyon
Operation Desert Storm