Malmstrom Air Force Base

Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Great Falls, Montana, and is home to the 341st Missile Wing. The base is named after Carlton L. Malmstrom, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient who was born in Virginia, Minnesota. The base has a long history of supporting Strategic Air Command and United States Strategic Command operations, including the Cold War and Operation Enduring Freedom. The base is also home to the 819th Red Horse Squadron, which is a unit of the United States Air Force Reserve.

● History

The history of Malmstrom Air Force Base dates back to 1942, when it was established as a United States Army Air Forces base during World War II. The base was originally known as Great Falls Army Air Base and was used as a training base for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bomber crews. After the war, the base was placed on inactive status, but was reactivated in 1947 as a Strategic Air Command base. The base was renamed Malmstrom Air Force Base in 1955 in honor of Carlton L. Malmstrom, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient. The base played a key role in the Cold War, with the 341st Strategic Missile Wing being activated in 1961 and the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile being deployed in 1967. The base has also supported Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom, with the 340th Weapons Squadron and the 819th Red Horse Squadron being deployed to Southwest Asia.

● Geography

Malmstrom Air Force Base is located in Cascade County, Montana, approximately 10 miles east of Great Falls, Montana. The base is situated in the Great Plains region of the United States, near the Missouri River. The base is surrounded by the Rocky Mountains to the west and the Little Belt Mountains to the south. The base has a total area of approximately 3,200 acres, with a runway that is 13,000 feet long. The base is also home to the Malmstrom Air Force Base Golf Course, which is an 18-hole golf course that is open to military personnel and civilians. The base is near the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, which is a United States Fish and Wildlife Service refuge that is home to a variety of wildlife, including bison, elk, and deer.

● Operations

Malmstrom Air Force Base is home to the 341st Missile Wing, which is a unit of the Air Force Global Strike Command. The wing is responsible for operating and maintaining the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, which is a key component of the United States nuclear deterrent. The base is also home to the 819th Red Horse Squadron, which is a unit of the United States Air Force Reserve. The squadron is responsible for providing expeditionary engineering and construction support to military units around the world. The base has also supported a variety of other operations, including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. The base is near the Malstrom Air Force Base Radar Station, which is a Federal Aviation Administration radar station that provides air traffic control services to the region.

● Units

Malmstrom Air Force Base is home to a variety of units, including the 341st Missile Wing, the 819th Red Horse Squadron, and the 340th Weapons Squadron. The 341st Missile Wing is a unit of the Air Force Global Strike Command and is responsible for operating and maintaining the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The 819th Red Horse Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force Reserve and is responsible for providing expeditionary engineering and construction support to military units around the world. The 340th Weapons Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force and is responsible for providing weapons training and tactics support to military units around the world. The base is also home to the Malmstrom Air Force Base Clinic, which is a United States Air Force medical clinic that provides medical care to military personnel and their families.

● Environment

Malmstrom Air Force Base is located in a region of the United States that is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. The base is near the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, which is a United States Fish and Wildlife Service refuge that is home to a variety of wildlife, including bison, elk, and deer. The base is also near the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, which is a United States Wilderness Area that is known for its scenic beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. The base has a variety of environmental programs in place to protect the natural environment, including a hazardous waste management program and a wildlife conservation program. The base is also home to the Malmstrom Air Force Base Environmental Office, which is responsible for overseeing the base's environmental programs and ensuring compliance with Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The base has also partnered with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to protect the environment and promote sustainability. Category:Military bases in Montana