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–.
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; 1 Jun 2008-31 May 2009; 1 Jun 2009-31 May 2010; 1 Jun 2012-31 May 2014; 1 Jun 2014-31 May 2015; 1 Jun 2016-31 May 2017; 1 Jun 2018-31 May 2019; 1 Jun 2020-31 May 2021. 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; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 2 Feb 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared on 23 Aug 2019.
Emblem. Approved on 25 Jul 1952; latest rendering, 3 Jun 2003.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.