A notice from the 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. —
The community can expect an increase in the presence of emergency vehicles and helicopters.
Installation gate access may be affected as enhanced security procedures are performed on inbound traffic.
The exercise involves extensive planning and coordination with federal and civil agencies and provides a unique training opportunity for the Air Force and its mission partners.
The training will be conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (May 7-9).
For more information or questions, contact the 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs office at 406-731-4050.
History
Malmstrom AFB’s origins date back to 1939, when concerns over World War II prompted the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce to advocate for a local military installation.
Construction began in 1941, and it opened as Great Falls Army Air Base in 1942, initially supporting B-17 bomber training and lend-lease operations for the Soviet Union during the war. Nearly 8,000 aircraft flew supplies from Great Falls to Alaska between 1942 and 1945.
Post-World War II, the base supported the Berlin Airlift (Operation Vittles) in 1948, serving as a training hub and supply point for C-54 Skymasters delivering aid to West Berlin. It continued airlift missions through the Korean War and hosted intelligence operations like the 582d Air Resupply and Communications Wing. In 1947, it transitioned to Great Falls Air Force Base with the creation of the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch.
The base played a significant air defense role during the Cold War, hosting fighter-interceptor squadrons (e.g., F-94 Starfires, F-101 Voodoos, and F-106 Delta Darts) under Air Defense Command from the 1950s to 1972. In 1953, it shifted to Strategic Air Command (SAC), initially supporting B-36 Peacemaker bombers with F-84 Thunderjets.
Renamed Malmstrom AFB on October 1, 1955, it honors Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom (1907–1954), a World War II POW commander who died in a T-33 trainer crash near the base just a year prior.
Community efforts led to the renaming in tribute to his local impact.
