I was stationed at Malmstrom AFB from 01/1976 to 09/1979. The base at that time was very basic. There was no airman's club and just a small NCO club. The towns people referred to us as "JETTERS". These people did not welcome our presence. This was the 1970's and our short haircuts marked us as soldiers. Life on this base was difficult, given the harsh climate (I'm from California) and the hostility from the townspeople. I was transferred to Incirlik AFB in Turkey. I served at other bases around the world during my career and I was received warmly and with respect. MAFB will always be a reminder that US citizens take to much for granted. Hopefully, things have changed. I would invite any feedback. God Bless America.
Hi can you comment on the stories about the 1967 nuclear missile shut down incidents. Had you heard anything during your time there? Was this just a hoax in your opinion? Thank you for your service.
Same thing from '89-'92 when I was there. The town hated the young AF guys. They still called us jetters although many of us were there for missile maintenance. There was not a whole hell of a lot to do in free time on base. Exploring the state was cool but I bet if I had a GPS back then I'd have found a ton more places to go. Some of the guys I was in with have gone back for reunions or to see the place. I have not and don't plan to any time soon. As for this video, the base is hardly recognizable now. Looks better, a lot more open. I wonder if the town's people are still annoyed by the presence of so many single dudes between 18 and 24 who are away from home for the first time and are looking to date the high school girls. :)
I was living in Great Falls as an Army Reservist from '84 to '90. I also had civilian employment most of the time. I often did hear the "jetter" appellation. I think that the bad feeling came from the '60's and '70's when a large portion of young airmen were in the Air Force to escape being drafted into the Army. The overall quality of the lot was much inferior to what was there when I was. I had heard that a particular park, one quite familiar to me but the name long forgotten, had been taken over by negro servicemen and that resulting tensions were dangerously high. During the '80's, Malmstrom was just an all-around bad place to be. I grew up with the Air Force as a dependent back in the '50's and the early '60's, and I had never had the bad feeling on any Air Force Base as I had on Malstrom. It seemed that the Security Police were running a continual reign of petty terror. Driving under their constant watch was very stressful and betimes expensive. In addition, there was a civilian contractor whose business it was to hassle people in the housing area on Mickey Mouse pretexts. I know one family whose cat was abducted from their front stoop by the Security Police just for being outside the door. The whole place impressed me as a being under a Mickey Mouse military-type reign of harassment. I had PX and commissary privileges, but I almost never used them. .
Thanks for posting. My family lived at Malstrom AFB from August of 1972 thru July of 1974 on Joshua St. Sometime around 2005, They tore down and rebuilit housing areas (At least in my area). I also noticed they rebuilt the base exchange and commissary and probably the theater too. I wonder if they still have a bowling alley? It was close to the theater in those days. Also, There used to be 2 golf ball-like radar domes near the entrance to the base. I've noticed those are long since gone. And who can forget those EB-57's that were based there? I have alot of good childhood memories there.
I lived in Great Falls as an Army Reservist from '84 to '90. As such I had commissary and PX privileges at Malmstrom. I almost never used them because the base was under a reign of terror by the Security Police. It was just a really good place to stay out of entirely. I am surprised that you did not get a ticket. The 15 mph limit in the housing area is up from just five when I was there.
I was at Malmstrom from Nov 60- Aug 70 when I was sent to sunny Funfilled Vietnam :) During that time I was with the 341st SPS and Worked Camper Alert Team Leader
1977, an armed aircraft from Malstrom flew a NORAD (training?) mission, and returning south, it flew into the trees/ground. Mere meters from one our fire lookout towers in the porcs. Unfortunate loss of your pilot.
The base's runway was closed on 31 December 1996 for aircraft operations. However, helicopter operations at Malmstrom continue in support of the base's missile mission.
@@jasondelaney6849 I could've sworn that the missile silos were deactivated because they let people go onto the base now and since the missile silos are located at the front of the base not too far from the main gate normally nobody is granted access to a military base if the missile silos are still active and loaded.
WHO WAS MR MALMSTRÖM ? I M OF THE MALMBERG LINEAGE, a finnish home guard general WW2, a notorious "friend of booze" . What wuz Malmström s "claim to fame" ? Wuz he the promoter of NO NUKES rock concert late 70s, held @ base ? NOW IN NATO, 3 mos .PS. Cap the zaps ... 🇫🇮
