Guardians of the Big Sky:

The Historical Legacy of Malmstrom Air Force Base

In the vast, undulating prairies of North Central Montana, where the Missouri River carves its ancient path and the wind whispers through the sagebrush, there exists a silent sentinel of the atomic age. Malmstrom Air Force Base, situated just east of Great Falls, stands not merely as a collection of hangars and silos, but as a profound monument to the twentieth century’s most turbulent chapters. Its history is an evocative tapestry of local ambition, global conflict, and the quiet, heavy burden of nuclear deterrence. To understand Malmstrom is to understand the soul of modern Montana—a landscape where the pastoral peace of the American West has long been inextricably linked to the survival of the world.

The Seed of Ambition: 1939–1942

The genesis of Malmstrom was born from the dust of the Great Depression and the gathering clouds of war in Europe. In 1939, as the shadows of conflict lengthened across the Atlantic, the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce recognized a unique opportunity to marry civic growth with national defense. Under the leadership of local advocates and with the political influence of Montana Senators Burton K. Wheeler and James E. Murray, a proposal was dispatched to the Secretary of War. The vision was clear: to transform the outskirts of Great Falls into a hub of military aviation.

Construction finally commenced on May 9, 1942, on what was then known as the Great Falls Army Air Base. To the locals, it was affectionately termed "East Base," a sibling to the municipal airport at Gore Hill. The landscape was quickly reshaped by the roar of machinery and the arrival of the 2nd Air Force. By November 1942, the first B-17 Flying Fortresses touched down on the newly laid tarmac, marking the beginning of Montana’s direct contribution to the liberation of Europe.

A Bridge Between Nations: The World War II Years

The historical significance of the base during World War II was defined by two distinct but equally vital missions: training and logistics. For nearly a year, the skies over the Missouri River rumbled with the heavy engines of four bombardment groups—the 2nd, 385th, 390th, and 401st. These crews honed the precision bombing techniques that would eventually shatter the industrial heart of the Axis powers.

However, the base’s most geographically unique role emerged through the Lend-Lease Program. As the 7th Ferrying Group took up residence, Great Falls became the essential gateway to the Alaskan-Siberian Route. Thousands of American-built aircraft—P-39 Airacobras, C-47 Skytrains, and B-25 Mitchells—were assembled and flown north to Fairbanks, Alaska. There, they were handed over to Soviet pilots to be used on the Eastern Front. By the war’s conclusion in 1945, nearly 8,000 aircraft had passed through the Montana facility. This logistical feat did more than just supply an ally; it placed Great Falls at the center of an international bridge, a moment of profound interconnectedness before the Iron Curtain fell and chilled such cooperation into a Cold War.

The Fallen Hero: Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom

The base’s transition into the Cold War era was marked by a name change that reflected a deep, empathetic bond between the military and the local community. Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom, a decorated World War II fighter pilot and former prisoner of war, arrived in Great Falls in February 1954 to serve as the deputy wing commander of the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing. He was a man of immense personal magnetism, respected by airmen and civilians alike for his humility and leadership.

On August 21, 1954, tragedy struck when Colonel Malmstrom’s T-33 trainer aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff. Evidence suggested that in his final moments, Malmstrom stayed with the stricken aircraft to steer it away from a populated residential area, sacrificing his life to protect the city he had grown to love. The grief of Great Falls was so profound that the community successfully petitioned the Department of the Air Force to rename the installation in his honor. On October 1, 1955, Great Falls Air Force Base became Malmstrom Air Force Base—a name that forever intertwined the facility with the values of self-sacrifice and civic devotion.

The Nuclear Shield: The Minuteman Era

As the 1950s gave way to the 1960s, Malmstrom’s mission shifted from the skies to the subterranean. The advent of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) transformed the Montana landscape into a critical component of the "Nuclear Triad." On July 1, 1961, the 341st Strategic Missile Wing was activated, tasked with overseeing the deployment of the Minuteman I missile.

The strategic importance of these weapons was realized almost immediately. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the first flight of Minuteman missiles at Malmstrom was placed on "Alpha Alert." President John F. Kennedy famously referred to these Montana missiles as his "Ace in the Hole," providing the diplomatic leverage necessary to navigate the world away from the brink of nuclear catastrophe.

This era redefined the relationship between the airmen and the land. Unlike traditional bases, the missile field spanned over 13,000 square miles of private and public land across several Montana counties. Launch Control Centers and silos became a permanent, if often invisible, part of the rural scenery, staffed by "missileers" who lived and worked in quiet isolation beneath the wheat fields.

Economic and Cultural Anchor

The influence of Malmstrom Air Force Base extends far beyond the silos. For over eighty years, the base has served as an economic cornerstone for Cascade County and the surrounding region. In the modern era, the base’s annual economic impact has been estimated at over $435 million, supporting thousands of indirect jobs and providing a steady pulse to the local economy.

Culturally, the "Malmstrom family" is woven into the fabric of Great Falls. From the annual air shows to the thousands of service members who choose to retire in the Big Sky Country, the base has brought a diverse, global perspective to a mid-sized Montana city. The Malmstrom Museum and Air Park serve as a nostalgic repository for this shared history, preserving the uniforms, aircraft, and stories of those who served. It is a place where the veteran of the Berlin Airlift training might stand alongside a modern-day security forces airman, both united by the same mission of service.

Conclusion: The Vigil Continues

Today, as the Air Force prepares for the transition from the aging Minuteman III to the Sentinel missile system, the historical significance of Malmstrom Air Force Base remains as vital as ever. It is a place of contradictions: a site of immense destructive power that exists solely to ensure that such power is never used; a federal installation that is deeply rooted in local Montana soil; and a modern technological marvel that honors a mid-century hero.

Malmstrom is a testament to the fact that Montana is not just a place of natural beauty, but a landscape of historical weight. The silhouettes of the silos against the Rocky Mountain Front serve as a poetic reminder of the peace we often take for granted—a peace maintained by those who stand watch in the dark, beneath the vast, unforgiving, and beautiful Montana sky.

Sources Cited

"About Us." Malmstrom Air Force Base, 2025, www.malmstrom.af.mil/About-Us/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

"LGM-30G Minuteman III." Malmstrom Air Force Base, 2024, www.malmstrom.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1454920/lgm-30g-minuteman-iii/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

"Malmstrom Air Force Base." MilitaryINSTALLATIONS, U.S. Department of Defense, 2025, installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/malmstrom-air-force-base. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

"Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB) Information." Montana Department of Environmental Quality, 25 Mar. 2021, deq.mt.gov/Files/Land/FederalBrownfields/Federal%20Facilities/MAFB-Description.docx. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

"Malmstrom's Past Unveils Dynamic Mission History." Air Force Global Strike Command, 17 Apr. 2012, www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/455698/malmstroms-past-unveils-dynamic-mission-history/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

"The Minuteman IA & IB Missiles." National Park Service, 20 Oct. 2020, www.nps.gov/articles/minuteman-ia-ib.htm. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

"What You'll Find at the Malmstrom Museum." Great Falls Montana Tourism, 20 Oct. 2025, visitgreatfallsmontana.org/youll-find-malmstrom-museum/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.