Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom

Col. Einar Axel Malmstrom (born July 14, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois) enlisted as a private in the Washington State National Guard on May 12, 1929, and was commissioned a second lieutenant on May 25, 1931. Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana is named for him. July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Malmstrom AFB is a United States Air Force base located in Cascade County, Montana, USA, treated for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place. ...

Biography

He was called to active federal service at Parkwater in Washington State, on September 16, 1940, as a first lieutenant. In May 1943, he moved to the European Theater of Operations, and assumed command of the 356th Fighter Group in November. September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... First Lieutenant is a military rank. ... The European Theater of Operations, or ETO, was the term used by the United States in World War II to refer to most United States military activity in Europe north of the Mediterranean coast. ...

On April 24, 1944, while flying his 58th combat mission, he was shot down over France and taken prisoner of war. During the year he spent as a prisoner, he was American commander of the south compound, POW Camp Stalag Luft 1, in Barth, Germany. For this duty, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... A Prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of persons captured by the enemy in time of war. ... In Nazi Germany, Stalag was a term used for prisoner-of-war camps. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ...

Returning to the U.S. in May 1945, he was assigned as air inspector for the 312th Base Unit, Barksdale, Louisiana, the 19th Tactical Air Command, Biggs Field, Texas, and at Greenville, South Carolina.

Moving to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, Colonel Malmstrom served as deputy for reserve forces, 9th AF, until August 1949 when he was enrolled as a student at the Air War college. After completing the course, he was assigned as senior Air Force instructor at the Army War College for three years. From this post he was sent to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, as division director of personnel, serving in that capacity until he was transferred to the 407th Strategic fighter Wing at Great Falls AFB, Montana, on February 1, 1954. Here he served as deputy wing commander. Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia is home of Air Combat Command. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wing Commander (rank) is a rank in the Royal Air Force, equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel in most Armies, the Royal Marines and the United States Marine Corps. ...

Colonel Malmstrom was killed in an aircraft accident on August 21, 1954, near the city of Great Falls. He was survived by his wife Kathryn, a son and a daughter. August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the short period of his tenure as vice wing commander, Colonel Malmstrom endeared himself to the community of Great Falls. Saddened by the loss, the people of the city began a drive to rename the base after him.

On June 15, 1956, Great Falls AFB was officially dedicated as Malmstrom Air Force Base. June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...