The 343d Bomb Squadron was a USAF Reserve squadron, assigned to the 307th Operations Group. It is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 343d Bombardment Squadron and saw combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, participating in the low level attack on oil refineries in Romania. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat operations. After VE Day the squadron returned to the United States and trained with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses until inactivating in Spring 1946. The squadron was reactivated in 1947 with Superfortresses. During the Korean War, it deployed to Japan and earned another Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat operations. The squadron returned to the United States and converted to the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, which it flew until inactivating in 1966 when the B-47 was withdrawn from service and Lincoln Air Force Base closed. The squadron was reactivated in 2010 and flies the B-52 Stratofortress out of Barksdale AFB, LA. This patch does not come with velcro attached.
