343rd Naval Air Group

The 343rd Naval Air Group (第343海軍航空隊) or 343 Kōkūtai was a notable Air Group of the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Pacific War. Created in 1944, the 343rd was equipped with the best aircraft the IJN had to offer against the F6F Hellcat and P-51 Mustang, the N1K2-J George (Shiden-Kai or Purple Lightning). Saburo Sakai and Naoshi Kanno were among the highly experienced pilots that were assigned to the 343rd.