Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana
Malmstrom Air Force Base traces its beginnings back to 1939 when World War II
broke out in Europe. Concern about the war caused the local Chamber of Commerce
to contact two Montana senators, Burton K. Wheeler and James E. Murray
and request they consider development of a military installation in Great
Falls. In November 1942, a survey team evaluated an area near the Green Mill
Dance Club and Rainbow Dam Road approximately six miles 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 on June 8, 1942. The base was informally known as East Base since
the 7th Ferrying Group was stationed at municipal airport on Gore Hill. Its
mission was to establish an air route between Great Falls and Ladd Field,
Fairbanks, Alaska, as part of the United States Lend-Lease Program that
supplied the Soviet Union with aircraft and supplies needed to fight the
German Army.
Great Falls Army Air Base was assigned to 2nd Air
Force and the first B-17 Flying Fortress landed on November 30, 1942. Four
Bombardment Groups, the 2nd, 385th, 390th, and 401st, trained at Great Falls
from November 1942 to October 1943. Group Headquarters and one of the Groups'
four squadrons were stationed in Great Falls with the other squadrons stationed
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
opening the door for Allied daylight precision bombing.
Upon completion of the B-17 training program, in October 1943, Great Falls Army
Air Base was transferred to the Air Transport Command and units from Gore
Field transferred to the base. More buildings were constructed this year,
including a consolidated mess, a Post Exchange, a theater, and a 400-bed
hospital. Moreover, the Lend Lease Program continued which included P-39, C-47,
B-25, and A-20 aircraft. B-25 Mitchell Bombers arrived by rail and were
assembled on base, others were flown in by both military and Women Air Force
Service Pilots (WASPs). These aircraft were later flown by U.S. pilots by way
of the Alaskan-Siberian Route (ALSIB) through Canada, to Fairbanks, Alaska, and
transferred to Russian pilots who in turn flew them into Siberia. A total of
1,717,712 pounds of cargo containing aircraft parts, tools miscellaneous
equipment, explosives and medical supplies were shipped through Great Falls
Army Air Base to Russia. 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.
Following WW II, Great
Falls Army Air Base assumed a support mission for military personnel assigned
to Alaskan military installations. A reserve training unit was established here
for the 4th Air Force from Oct. 10,1946, to March 6, 1947. In September of 1947,
the United States Air Force became a separate service and the baseÕs name
changed to Great Falls Air Force Base. The "Cold War" heated up when the
Soviet Union closed all land travel between West Germany and West Berlin. The
United States and Britain vowed not to abandon West Berliners to the Berlin
Blockade. On June 25,1948 "Operation Vittles," the strategic airlift of
supplies to Berlin's 2,000,000 inhabitants, was initiated. Great Falls AFB
played a critical role in assuring the success of this vital operation.
Officials selected the base as the only replacement aircrew training site for
Berlin Airlift-bound C-54s, officially activating the 517th Air Transport
Wing. Using radio beacons, Great Falls AFB was transformed to resemble
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. Later, the 517th Air Transport Wing was
redesginated the 1701st Air Transport Wing. This wing's primary mission was
the routing and scheduling of flights throughout the Pacific Ocean region and
in support of allied forces in the Korean Conflict. The Military Air Transport
Service (MATS) reopened the C-54 Flight Training School as the 1272 Medium
Transition Training Unit in May 1950, one month before the Korean War began.
The 1701st ATW was later replaced by the 1300th Air Base Wing and the 582nd
Air Resupply and Communications Squadron.
Great Falls AFB has also played a major aerial defense role in North
American Air Defense mission. The 29th Air Division activated at Great Falls
AFB in early 1950, bringing with them fighter interceptor squadrons, an
aircraft control and warning squadron, and ground observer detachments. The
29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron activated in 1953 and remained at Great
Falls until 1968. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was
created in 1957. Malmstrom AFB was responsible for the 24th NORAD region,
which covered the western half of the North America. This was comprised of
four fighter/interceptor squadrons and radar sites stretching from the
Rocky Mountains, halfway across North Dakota and north to the north border
of Canada. The 24th also served as the NORAD alternate command post, which
remained active until 1983.
In 1954, the base was aligned
under Strategic Air Command and the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing was
assigned to Great Falls AFB. The Wing's F-84 fighters and KB-29 air
refuelers were to provide fighter escort for SAC's long-range B-36 bombers.
On Aug. 21 of that year, the 407th SFW Vice Commander, Col. Einar Axel
Malmstrom, died when his T-33 crashed approximately one mile west of the
airport at Gore Field. Although his tenure was short, he was well liked by
the local community. It was the local civilian community that led the
efforts to rename Great Falls AFB for Col. Malmstrom. On June 15th, 1956,
the base was officially dedicated as Malmstrom AFB.
When the 407th SFW was deactivated in 1957 the 4061st Air Refueling Wing
(ARW) was activated. The 407th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) and their
KB-29s were joined by the 97th ARS and their KC-97s to form the wing. The
4061st ARW flew their missions from Malmstrom AFB until July 1961.
The 341st Strategic Missile Wing was activated at Malmstrom AFB on July 15,
1961. 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 Nov.1, 1961 and Alpha-01, the first launch control facility,
was completed in July 1962. The first Minuteman I ICBM arrived on base by
rail July 23, 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. Later that same
year the missiles assigned to the nations first Minuteman ICBM wing would
play a major role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. On October 26, 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. Over
the next four days the wing placed four more missiles on alert, with the
last missile from Alpha flight achieving alert status Nov. 10. The Soviets
eventually removed their missiles from Cuba. Later President Kennedy said
the Soviets backed down because they knew he had an " Ace in the Hole,"
referring directly to the Minuteman missiles of the l0th SMS. On July 3,
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 May 5,
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. 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.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, 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 here 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.
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. The 301st ARW deployed to Moon Island in the
Persian Gulf during 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 Stragetic Missile Wing
deployed security, civil engineering, services and support personnel in
support of the action. On June 14, 1991, the 40th Air Division deactivated,
returning host responsibilities back to the 341st. On September 1, 1991,
the 341 SMW became the 341st Missile Wing. Also in 1991, the Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty, or START, was officially formalized. President Bush took
all Minuteman II missiles, bombers and tankers off alert status on
September 27. 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 August 10, 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.
In the early 1990s, host responsibilities changed several times due to
massive Air Force restructuring programs. On January 15, 1992, Malmstrom's
host responsibilities were again transferred, this time to the Air Mobility
Command's 301st ARW. Later, on June 1, 1992, the Air Force restructured its
major commands, deactivating SAC and replacing it with Air Combat Command
(ACC). The 301st ARW was redesignated the 43d ARW. In July of 1993
responsibility for the nation's ICBM force was transferred to Air Force
Space Command. The 341 MW transferred from ACC to Air Force Space Command
and the 43rd ARW was redesginated as a group, transferring host
responsibilities back to the 341 MW.
In 1995, the Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting, or REACT, signaled the
first complete overhaul of the Minuteman IIIÕs command and control systems.
In addition to REACT, the wing completed the transfer of 120 Minuteman III
ICBMs from Grand Forks AFBÕs, 321st Missile Group to Malmstrom. This
brought the wing strength to 200 Minuteman Ills on alert status -the first
time since 1991 it had a full compliment of a single weapon system.
The 1995 Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission led to the d
eactivation of the 43rd Air Refueling Group with its aircraft assigned to
the 6th Air Base Wing at McDi11 AFB, Florida. On Jan. 1,1997, Malmstrom's
runway was declared inactive for the first time in the base's history.
Later that year, the 819th RED HORSE Squadron arrived. It was the first
AF squadron to consist of active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force
Reservists. The squadron provided a combat engineering force to military
and humanitarian operations worldwide on short notice. The latest addition
to Malmstrom' s mission, the Network Operations Center, performed passive
space surveillance and provided users with reliable tracking of near earth
and deep space satellites.
Malmstrom's physical appearance has undergone many changes since 1995.
Construction of new and renovation of old family housing, dormitories, work
facilities and general base infrastructure have transformed the base's
image and upgraded utilities. These improvements to the mission and quality
of life resulted in Malmstrom being named the best Air Force installation
in the continental United States in 1999.
The wing's Minuteman Missiles have also undergone improvements and
upgrades. An extensive life extension program is under way to keep the
missiles safe, secure, and reliable well into the 21st Century. These major
programs include: replacement of the aging guidance system, remanufacture
of the solid propellant rocket motors, replacement of standby power
systems, repair of launch facilities, and installation of updated,
survivable communications equipment. These efforts will extend the life of
the Air Force's ICBM force to 2020 and beyond -guaranteeing Malmstrom AFB's
future into the 21st century.
History of the Minuteman at Malmstrom can be found here.
History of the Safeguard ABM at Malmstrom can be found here.