page_title: Malmstrom Air Force Base
section_title: Malmstrom
hierarchical_section_title: Malmstrom Air Force Base / History / Malmstrom
caption_attribution_description: English: Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom - United States Air Force photo
context_page_description: Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States, adjacent to the city of Great Falls. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom. It is the home of the 341st Missile Wing of the Air Force Global Strike Command. As a census-designated place, it had a population of 3,472 at the 2010 census.
context_section_description: 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).  Colonel Malmstrom, shot down on his 58th combat fighter mission in World War II, became the US commander of Luftwaffe Stalag Luft 1 South Compound, 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.  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.
caption: Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom
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