Lineage. Constituted as 343 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 3 Feb 1942. Redesignated as 343 Bombardment Squadron,Very Heavy, on 23 May 1945. Inactivated on 27 Mar 1946. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Redesignated as 343 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 28 May 1948. Discontinued, and inactivated on 25 Jun 1966. Redesignated as 343 Bomb Squadron on 9 Mar 2010. Activated on 1 Apr 2010.
Assignments. 98 Bombardment Group, 3 Feb 1942; 40 Bombardment Group, 10 Nov 1945-27 Mar 1946. 98 Bombardment Group, 1 Jul 1947; 98 Bombardment (later, 98 Strategic Aerospace) Wing, 16 Jun 1952-25 Jun 1966. 917 Operations Group, 1 Apr 2010-.
Stations. MacDill Field, FL, 3 Feb 1942; Barksdale Field, LA, 16 Feb 1942; Ft Myers, FL, 30 Mar 1942; Drane Field, FL, 15 May-3 Jul 1942; Ramat David, Palestine, 7 Aug 1942; St Jean, Palestine, 21 Aug 1942; Kabrit, Egypt, 10 Nov 1942; Gambut, Libya, 31 Jan 1943; Lete, Libya, 3 Mar 1943; Hergla, Tunisia, 25 Sep 1943; Brindisi, Italy, 18 Nov 1943; Manduria, Italy, 19 Dec 1943; Lecce, Italy, 17 Jan 1944-19 Apr 1945; Fairmont AAFld, NE, 8 May 1945; McCook AAFld, NE, 25 Jun 1945; March Field, CA, 10 Nov 1945-27 Mar 1946. Andrews Field, MD, 1 Jul 1947; Spokane AAFld (later, Spokane AFB; Fairchild AFB), WA, 24 Sep 1947; Yokota AB, Japan, 5 Aug 1950-22 Jul 1954; Lincoln AFB, NE, 25 Jul 1954-11 Nov 1955; Lakenheath RAF Station, England,12 Nov 1955-28 Jan 1956; Lincoln AFB, NE, 29 Jan 1956-25 Jun 1966. Barksdale AFB, LA, 1 Apr 2010-.
Commanders. Unkn, 3 Feb 1942; Capt Wilfred E. Brown, 18 Feb 1942; Maj Julian M. Bleyer, 2 Sep 1942; Capt F. W. DeLong, Mar 1943; Capt Thomas W. Bennett Jr., by Jan 1944; Maj Willis B. Sawyer, 10 Feb 1944; unkn, 1945-27 Mar 1946. Unkn, 1 Jul 1947; Maj Robert H. Benesh, by Nov 1947; Lt Col William L Gray, by Apr 1949; Capt Dale F. Stewart, c. 1950; Capt Dewey L. Chapman, 12 Aug 1950; Capt Joseph V. Padula, 13 Sep 1950; Capt Charles J. Burns, 1 Nov 1950; Lt Col Joe Maddalena Jr., by 1 Mar 1952; Maj Robert C. Brown, by May 1952, Lt Col B. B. White, by Oct 1952; Maj Fountain L. Brown, by Dec 1952; Lt Col Max W. Rogers, by Aug 1953; Lt Col Robert K. Simeral, by Feb 1954; Lt Col Lowell B. Fisher, by Jan 1955; Maj Arthur K. Alexander, by Aug 1956; Lt Col Joe V. Disana, by Nov 1956; Maj James D. Jelly, 22 Sep 1959; Lt Col Robert U. Gaines, by Jul 1961; Lt Col Lester E. Holmes, by Oct 1964; Lt Col John S. Allison, by Jul 1965; Lt Col J. W. Wilkin, by Jan-25 Jun 1966. Lt Col Jeff A. Stogsdill, 1 Apr 2010-.
Aircraft. B-24, 1942-1945; B-29, 1945; 1947-1954; B-47, 1954-1966. B-52, 2010-.
Operations. Combat in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and European Theater of Operations (ETO), Aug 1942-15 Apr 1945. Awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for combat action in North Africa and Sicily, Aug 1942-Aug 1943; received a second DUC for raid on Ploesti, 1 Aug 1943. Combat in Korea, 7 Aug 1950-25 Jul 1953; received a DUC for service in Korea, Dec 1952-Apr 1953. Began training mission after Korean truce, Aug 1953-May 1954. Returned to US in Jul 1954. Transitioned to B-47, Sep 1954-Feb 1955. Trained for long-range bombardment missions, 1955-1966. Activated in April 2010 as an associate unit to support B-52 operations, conventional and nuclear.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Korea: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, Aug 1942-17 Aug 1943; Ploesti, Rumania, 1 Aug 1943; Korea, 1 Dec 1952-30 Apr 1953. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Jul 1964-1 Jun 1965. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [7 Aug 1950]-27 Jul 1953.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through Apr 2010.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Apr 2010.
Supersedes published information contained in: Maurer Maurer (ed.), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (Washington: USGPO, 1969).
Emblem. Approved on 15 Apr 1957; latest rendering, 6 Dec 2021.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.