Malmstrom Air Force Base

Coordinates: 47°30′17″N 111°11′14″W / 47.50472°N 111.18722°W / 47.50472; -111.18722
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Malmstrom Air Force Base
AMSL
Helipads
Number Length and surface
H1 30 metres (98 ft) asphalt
H2 30 metres (98 ft) concrete
Note: Fixed wing aircraft flying ceased in 1996.
Source: AirNav.com
2010 census.[2]

History

World War II

Malmstrom Air Force Base traces its beginnings back to 1939 when

Civil Aeronautics Authority provided the money for the development of the Great Falls Municipal Airport. In May 1942, construction began on an Army Air Corps base six miles (10 km) east of Great Falls. The base was known as East Base.[3]

In November 1942, a survey team evaluated an area near the Green Mill Dance Club and Rainbow Dam Road approximately six miles (9.7 km) east of Great Falls. Great Falls, along with ten other northern tier sparsely populated sites, was considered for a heavy bomber training base. Construction began on Great Falls Army Air Base (AAB) on 8 June 1942. The base was informally known as East Base since the 7th Ferrying Group was stationed at Great Falls Municipal Airport on Gore Hill (known as Gore Field during its military use). Its mission was to establish an air route between Great Falls and

401st, trained at Great Falls AAB from November 1942 to October 1943 under Army Air Force Training Command. Group Headquarters and one of the Groups' four squadrons were stationed in Great Falls with the other squadrons stationed on sub-bases at Cut Bank, Glasgow, and Lewistown, Montana. Aircraft would take off at a predetermined time, form up in squadron formation over their respective location, and later, over central Montana, join up in group formation. These bombardment groups went on to participate in decisive raids over Germany as part of Eighth Air Force opening the door for Allied daylight precision bombing.[3][5]

Upon completion of the B-17 training program, in October 1943, Great Falls Army Air Base was transferred to the

Lend Lease Program with the Soviet Union.[3][4]

Oblique aerial photo of Great Falls AAB, looking south-westward, about 1944

At Great Falls,

A-20 Havocs aircraft arrived by rail and were assembled on base, along with others that were flown in by both military and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). These aircraft were later flown by U.S. pilots by way of the Northwest Staging Route through Canada, to Fairbanks, Alaska, and transferred to Soviet pilots who in turn flew them into Siberia via the Alaskan-Siberian Route (ALSIB
). A total of 1,717,712 pounds (779,141 kg) of cargo containing aircraft parts, tools miscellaneous equipment, explosives and medical supplies were shipped through Great Falls Army Air Base to the Soviet Union.

This included one of the greatest technology transfers (and espionage operations) in the history of the world. According to Richard Rhodes the plans for the atomic bomb, hundreds of tons of nuclear weapons materials, strategic intelligence reports, and the plans for much of the most advanced aviation, electronic, and heavy industrial technology was transferred through Gore Field and East Base in sealed diplomatic containers. Dozens, if not hundreds, of Soviet agents also entered the U.S. through Great Falls as part of the Soviet Lend-lease delegation and staff.[6]

Aircraft shipments to the Soviet Union stopped in September 1945, when World War II ended, with approximately 8,000 aircraft having been processed in a 21-month period.[3]

Following World War II, Great Falls Army Air Base (later Great Falls Air Force Base and Malmstrom Air Force Base) played an important role in US defense during the Cold War era (1948–1991). The base was assigned or attached to several major commands, and its assigned units performed a wide variety of missions.

Military Air Transport Service

After World War II ended Great Falls AAB assumed a support mission for military personnel assigned to Alaskan military installations. A reserve training unit was established by the Continental Air Forces Fourth Air Force under the 418th Army Air Force Base Unit on 10 October 1946. In September 1947, the United States Air Force became a separate service and the base's name was changed to Great Falls Air Force Base.[3]

USAF C-54 Skymaster

Tensions between the

Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany. Hundreds of pilots and flight engineers, many of whom were recalled to active duty, were qualified on the C-54 aircraft and on flight procedures to and from Berlin by practicing on ground mock-ups and flying simulated airlift missions.[3]

Later, the 517th Air Transport Wing was redesignated the 1701st Air Transport Wing on 1 June 1948 when Air Transport Command was redesignated the Military Air Transport Service (MATS). Great Falls was assigned to the MATS Pacific Division. Transport units assigned to Great Falls were the 5th, 6th and 7th Air Transport Squadrons (later redesignated 1270th, 1271st and 1272d ATS) which flew C-54 Skymasters.[3][7]

MATS reopened the C-54 Flight Training School as the 1272 Medium Transition Training Unit (Squadron) in May 1950, one month before the Korean War began. The unit's primary mission was the routing and scheduling of flights throughout the Pacific Ocean region and in support of Allied forces in the conflict. The 1701st ATW was later replaced by the 1300th Air Base Wing.[3]

Great Falls became the temporary home of the

USAFE's Third Air Force in February 1954.[8]

Malmstrom

Colonel Einar Malmstrom

Originally named Great Falls Army Air Base, later Great Falls Air Force Base, the facility was renamed Malmstrom Air Force Base on 1 October 1955 in honor of Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom (1907–1954). Shot down on his 58th combat fighter mission in World War II, Malmstrom became the US commander of Luftwaffe Stalag Luft I South Compound, a prisoner-of-war camp at Barth, Germany. After his release and return to active Air Force service, he died in the crash of a T-33 Shooting Star trainer on 21 August 1954 near Great Falls Air Force Base.[9][10] In the short period of his tenure as vice wing commander, Colonel Malmstrom endeared himself to the local community. Saddened by the loss, the people of Great Falls began a drive to rename the base after him.

Air Defense Command

Great Falls (later Malmstrom AFB) played a major aerial defense role in North American air defense mission. Although the base was not assigned to

Richards Gebaur AFB, Missouri.[12]

By 1954, several aircraft control and warning (radar) squadrons had been formed at the base. The

Gettysburg AFS
, South Dakota.

In 1957, under the control of the 801st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, the Malmstrom AFB radar station became operational with

AN/FPS-24
search radar, replacing the AN/FPS-20.

The 801st Radar Squadron was inactivated on 31 December 1969 due to budget reductions. However, the radar site itself rejoined the SAGE network on 30 June 1971. The FAA operated an

AN/FPS-116 for the Joint Surveillance System (JSS) Program, then was removed c. 1988. The Malmstrom AFB radar site was closed altogether in 1996, and after the air force shut down the ADCOM Z-147 site, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took over operation as part of the Joint Surveillance System
(JSS).

Z-147 was completely replaced by a new

ARSR-4 JSS site on Bootlegger Ridge, about 14 miles northeast of Great Falls AFB. Designated by NORAD as Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) Ground Equipment Facility J-77A.[13][14][15]

In 1959 a SAGE data center (DC-20) was established at Malmstrom. The SAGE system was a network linking Air Force (and later FAA) general surveillance radar stations into a centralized center for air defense, intended to provide early warning and response for a Soviet nuclear attack.

29th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron McDonnell F-101B-110-MC Voodoo Great Falls AFB, Montana March 1964

DC-20 was initially under the

AN/FSQ-7 computer remained under the 28th AD until it was inactivated on 19 November 1969 and being taken over by the 24th Air Division. DC-20 remained on duty until March 1983 when technology advances allowed the air force to shut down many SAGE data centers.[16]

The

Northwest Air Defense Sector.[3]

On 1 July 1968, the F-101B equipped 29th FIS was inactivated and replaced by the

F-106 Delta Dart equipped 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was reassigned from Richards Gebaur AFB when its ADC mission was eliminated. Three years later, the 71st was redesignated as the 319th FIS, which remained on alert until 30 June 1972 when the active-duty air defense interceptor mission at Malmstrom was inactivated.[11]

Strategic Air Command

On 18 December 1953, Great Falls AFB was transferred from Military Air Transport Service to

F-84 Thunderjets.[3][17]

On 21 August 1954 the 407th SFW Vice Commander, Colonel

KC-97 Stratofreighters to form the wing. The 4061st ARW flew their missions from Malmstrom AFB until July 1961.[3][17]

341st Strategic Missile Wing

With the development of the three-stage, solid-fuel

Minuteman I missile in the late 1950s SAC began searching for sites to deploy this revolutionary weapon. Because Malmstrom's location placed most strategic targets in the Soviet Union
within range of Minuteman, the base was selected to become a command and control center for ICBMs located in central Montana.

On 23 December 1959, the Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee approved the selection of Malmstrom AFB to host the first Minuteman

341st Strategic Missile Wing was reassigned to Malmstrom.[3] The 341st was previously assigned to Dyess AFB, Texas
, where it was designated as the 341st Bombardment Wing. With the reassignment of the 341st SMW to Malmstrom, the tankers of the 407th ARW were reassigned or retired and the runway at the base was used by the Air Defense Command F-101 and F-106 interceptors along with transient aircraft.

Construction of the wing's first launch facility began in March 1961 and was completed in December. The 10th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS) was activated on 1 November 1961 and Alpha-01, the first launch control facility, was completed in July 1962. The first Minuteman I ICBM arrived on base by rail 23 July 1962. Just four days after the missile's arrival, Launch Facility Alpha-09 gained the title of the first Minuteman missile site. The 12th SMS and 490th SMS activated in March and May 1962.[3]

On 3 July 1963, following 28 months of construction, the wing and its three squadrons became operational. Each squadron controlled 50 missiles, bringing the total wing strength to 150 Minuteman I missiles. Two years later, construction began on the fourth and final squadron, the 564th SMS. This squadron was equipped with the more modern Minuteman II missiles. On 5 May 1967, the 564th SMS was declared fully operational. Malmstrom's missile field was now the largest in the United States, covering 23,500 square miles (61,000 km2). Two years later, the 10th, 12th and 490th SMSs were also upgraded to the Minuteman II missiles, increasing the wing's capabilities to four missile squadrons equipped with a total of 200 Minuteman II missiles.[3]

In late 1962 missiles assigned to the 341st Wing would play a major role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. On 26 October, at 11:16 am, the 10th SMS's launch facility Alpha-06 went on "strategic alert" after it was discovered the Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba to counter the threat to Moscow and most of the Soviet Union east of the Urals posed by American nuclear-armed Jupiter and Thor missiles based in Turkey. Over the next four days the wing placed four more missiles on alert, with the last missile from Alpha Flight achieving alert status on 10 November. The Soviets eventually removed their missiles from Cuba.[3]

In fact, the Minuteman missiles at Malmstrom were able to substitute for Jupiter and Thor missiles based in Turkey, which were removed under a secret accord, thus allowing the Soviets to remove their missiles from Cuba, and replace them with submarine-based missiles and longer-range ICBMs based on Soviet territory. The overall effect of the Cuban Missile Crisis was to greatly expand and extend the nuclear arms race, in which Malmstrom played (and continues to play) a leading role.[citation needed]

Throughout the Cold War era, the wing's missiles remained on alert and underwent extensive weapons systems upgrades. The 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, equipped with

EB-57 Canberras, was activated in the 1970s to train NORAD air defense personnel in electronic countermeasures. In 1988 the hardened mobile launcher for the small ICBM was tested at Malmstrom AFB to verify its ability to operate in harsh winter conditions.[3]

301st Air Refueling Wing

On 5 January 1988, Malmstrom gained its first SAC flying wing since the

KC-135R Stratotankers, refueling fighter, bomber, airlift, special operations and strategic reconnaissance aircraft worldwide.[3]

A major restructuring occurred in 1989 when SAC relocated the 40th Air Division to Malmstrom AFB and assigned it host responsibilities for both the newly activated 301st ARW and the 341st Strategic Missile Wing.[3]

The 301st ARW deployed to Moon Island in the

Operation Desert Storm. During this time period the 301st flew 443 Combat Sorties refueling 936 coalition aircraft, and transferring 33.5 Million pounds of fuel. The 341st Strategic Missile Wing deployed security, civil engineering, services and support personnel in support of the action. On 14 June 1991, the 40th Air Division inactivated, returning host responsibilities back to the 341st SMW with the 301st ARW remaining as a tenant unit.[3]

Post-Cold War era

The 40th Air Division was activated at Malmstrom on 7 July 1989. A third of the base's personnel (about 1,800 people) were assigned to it, including support personnel from the 341st Strategic Missile Wing. Historian, judge advocate, public affairs, and safety were now designated 40th Air Division, while combat support, resource management, security police, and strategic clinic were redesignated 840th.[18]

On 1 September 1991, the 341 SMW became the 341st Missile Wing. Also in 1991, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), was officially formalized. President Bush took all Minuteman II missiles, bombers and tankers off alert status on 27 September. In November 1991, the 12th Missile Squadron's Launch Facility J-03 became the first to have its missile removed in compliance with the order. It would be three and one half years, until the last Minuteman II in the Air Force inventory was removed from Kilo-11 on 10 August 1995. As Minuteman II missiles were removed, a new program called Rivet Add was launched, modifying the 150 Minuteman II launch facilities to accommodate the newer Minuteman III, transferred from Grand Forks AFB in northeastern North Dakota.

With the inactivation of SAC on 1 June 1992, Malmstrom temporarily became an Air Mobility Command (AMC) base with the 341st Missile Wing as an Air Combat Command (ACC) tenant unit.

The 301 ARW was subsequently inactivated and replaced by the

Peterson Air Force Base at Colorado Springs, Colorado
. This mid-1993 move merged all missile and space operations under one command. In October 1997, the 341 MW, along with all other missile wings, was redesignated as the 341st Space Wing (341 SW).

In 1994, the 43 ARW was downgraded in status and redesignated as the 43d Air Refueling Group (43 ARG). In 1996, the 43 ARG and its

KC-135R aircraft were transferred from Malmstrom to MacDill AFB at Tampa, Florida, as part of a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action, merging with MacDill's 6th Air Base Wing to form the current 6th Air Refueling Wing. With the loss of its only fixed-wing flying unit, Malmstrom's runway was decommissioned as a cost-savings measure following departure of the last KC-135R aircraft in 1997. Malmstrom's air traffic control tower was leveled, the navigational aids were turned off and runway was closed and currently remains inactive. One hangar and a portion of the Malmstrom flight line remain operational for aviation purposes as heliport for Malmstrom's 40th Helicopter Squadron (40 HS) and its UH-1N Twin Huey
helicopters supporting the 341st Space Wing's Minuteman III ICBM sites.

On 18 May 2007 there was an incident involving the visiting

Canadian Forces aerial demonstration squadron, the "Snowbirds
". While practicing, a lap belt failed in one of the Snowbirds' aircraft, resulting in a mishap that killed the pilot of Snowbird 2.

Malmstrom had been used for the site of an experimental coal to synthetic fuel plant for potential use in USAF aircraft in 2008.[19]

On 6 May 2008,

missile silo and he interviewed various squadron members about the policies and procedures should a nuclear response ever be directed by the President of the United States
.

On 1 July 2008, the 341st Space Wing was redesignated as the 341st Missile Wing.

Two launch facilities at the base showed

Environmental Protection Agency when extensive sampling began of active U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile bases to address specific cancer concerns in 2023.[20]

2014 cheating scandal

In 2014, dozens of missile launch officers lost their launch certifications after it was discovered that several officers were trading proficiency test answers amongst each other through text messages. An investigation began in 2013, when evidence of cheating was discovered during a drug investigation involving three launch officers. This resulted in over 90 nuclear launch officers being suspended from their duties and at least nine senior officers around the base were removed from command with a tenth resigning. Though some of the ten officers were not involved in the scandal,

F. E. Warren Air Force Base to determine if the scandal had spread to other bases. No evidence of cheating was discovered at either base.[21][22]

Major commands to which assigned
Major Tenant organizations 1 March 1951 – 31 December 1983

Major units assigned

references for base name, major commands, major units[4]
* Base operating unit

Role and operations

Malmstrom AFB is one of three US Air Force Bases that maintains and operates the

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. It is part of Global Strike Command headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.[23]

The base's runway was closed on 31 December 1996 to aircraft operations. Helicopter operations at Malmstrom continue in support of the base's missile mission.[23]

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Malmstrom Air Force Base.[24][25]

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Malmstrom, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

United States Air Force

Malmstrom Museum

The Malmstrom Museum exhibits 7 aircraft as well as artifacts related to the history of the airbase.[29][30]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the base CDP has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km2), all land.

Demographics

Main gate

As of the

Metropolitan Statistical Area
".

As of the

Latino
people of any race were 7.8% of the population.

There were 1,310 households, out of which 66.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.0% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.1% were non-families. 10.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.16 and the average family size was 3.41.

On the base the population was spread out, with 36.8% under the age of 18, 23.2% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.3 males.

The median income for a household on the base was $31,775, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $24,009 versus $19,393 for females. The

poverty line
, including 6.0% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ "KGFA Malmstrom Air Force Base Heliport". AirNav.com. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Malmstrom AFB CDP, Montana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Malmstrom AFB History Office Archived 21 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-16-002261-4
  5. ISBN 0-89201-092-4
    .
  6. ^ Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb, Chapt. 5 "Super Lend-Lease"
  7. ^ USAFHRA Document 00172684
  8. ^ Thigpen, Jerry L. (2001). The Praetorian STARShip: The untold story of the Combat Talon. Air University Press , Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ASIN: B000116LSI
  9. ^ "Col. Malmstrom killed in crash". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). 21 August 1954. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Acting C.O. of Great Falls air base dies in jet crash". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. 22 August 1954. p. 15.
  11. ^ a b USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1)
  12. ^ United States Air Force Historical Research Agency Research Division, Organizational History Branch Archived 1 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Information for Bootlegger Ridge, MT
  14. ^ A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946–1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
  15. ^ Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
  16. ^ Information for Malmstrom AFB SAGE, MT
  17. ^ a b Strategic-Air-Command.Com
  18. ^ "Base Unit Designations to Change". Great Falls Tribune. 22 May 1989. p. 7.
  19. ^ "Air Force wants coal for fuel, but will idea fly?". NBC News. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  20. ^ Copp, Tara (7 August 2023). "Carcinogens found at Montana nuclear missile sites as reports of hundreds of cancers surface". AP News. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  21. ^ Cooper, Helene (27 March 2014). "92 Air Force Officers Suspended for Cheating on Their Missile Exam". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Air Force cheating scandal: 92 nuclear missile launch officers are implicated". Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2019. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  23. ^ a b USAF Malmstrom Air Force Base Website
  24. ^ "Malstrom AFB – Team Malmstrom". MyBaseGuide. MARCOA Media. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Units". Malmstrom AFB. US Air Force. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Units".
  27. ^ "Malmstrom Air Force Base".
  28. ^ "U.S. Army Reserve > Featured > Ambassador Program > Find an Ambassador > Montana".
  29. ^ "Malmstrom Museum". Malmstrom Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Location Dossier - Malmstrom AFB Museum". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  31. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.

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