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. 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.