Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 63

Friday, October 23, 1992 MalmsfrcmatSO Great Falls Tribune 31 Malmstrom Museum preserves base's past Malmstrom's history from the early World War II years is graphically displayed and glass cases of military aircraft and missile models Wall panels describe, and pictorially illustrate, the many Strategic Air Command missions the base has had during its. history as well as the history of the 24th North American Aerospace Defense CommandAir Division which provided more than 20 years of air defense. -1 Just inside the main gate at Malmstrom Air Force Base at the east end of Second Avenue North is a public attraction of historic interest to Montana, an attraction often overlooked not only by visitors to the Great Falls area but also by Great Falls residents themselves. It is the Malmstrom Air Force Base Museum and Air Park. And while it is not an official Air Force operation funded with federal dollars, it has the Air Force's blessing.

It operates on donations and private funding and countless volunteer hours by its supporters. Its major displays, in the park surrounding the museum, are on loan from the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Included in the displays is a KC-29Stratotanker, EB-57 Camberra, F-101 Voodoo, F-84F Thunderstreak, and a UH-1F Iroquis helicopter, better known as a Huey. All are aircraft which served, or are serving, Malmstrom or Great Falls Air Force Base before the base name was changed to Malmstrom. Standing tall at the east end of the park is a mock-up of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile like the ones which stood ready in 50 missile launch facilities under the jurisdiction of the 341st Strategic Missile Wing headquartered at Malmstrom.

A Canadian Indian totem pole, symbolic of the affection the Canadian Forces had for their American counterparts while on military duty here, stands in the park, a gift from the Canadian Forces. While these major displays are owned by the Air Force, all refurbishing and emplacement responsibility rests with the Malmstrom Historical Foundation which achieved successful completion of these projects through donations of materials and mechanical equipment including cranes from local civilians and voluntary military contributions. It was volunteer effort that brought the aircraft back into display-status condition complete with color markings and aircraft numbers of historic importance. When the base's Education which includes the names of these Montana heroes. The museum received a group of neutralized North Vietnamese infantry weapons.

Memorabilia of all types flight suits, helmets, flight equipment, instruments all are carefully preserved and displayed. Hanson said anyone can join -the foundation, a non-profit corporation chartered to receive gifts, donations, artifacts and service or materials on behalf of the museum. These donations from businesses or individuals, Hanson said, are tax deductible. The museum is open from noon-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, but during the Dec-Feb.

period, it is open noon-3 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The museum has no paid staff, all personnel are volunteers. The park-museum officially was dedicated on July 3, 1982 byGen. Bennie Davis, then commander in chief of SAC. Canadian Forces Brig.

Gen. J.F.Y. Sorel dedicated the totem pole and Maj. Gen. John Murphy, then commander of 15th Air Force, was on hand for the ceremonies.

One of the future steps being planned for the park-museum complex, is the installation of walkways around the display aircraft to give viewers a closer look. provides some administrative assistance to the program. Within the museum itself, which is open to the public without charge, Malmstrom's history from the early World War II years is graphically displayed and glass cases of military aircraft and missile models created primarily by Bary Poletto of Great Falls and Tech. Sgt. Dane Donnley portray the history of aircraft from the Wright brothers to today's sophisticated Air Force jets.

One of the museum's founders, Gerald Hanson, said the Malmstrom Museum's military model collection is one of the best in the United States. Wall panels describe, and pictorially illustrate, the many Strategic Air Command missions the base has had during its history as well as the history of the 24th North American Aerospace Defense CommandAir Division which provided more than 20 years of air defense. In the center of one of the displayrooms stands a towering section of the Q-7 computer which the 24th NORAD used here for many years and, affixed to one of the section's faces, is a computer chip less than the size of a postage stamp which replaced the section in newer systems. There is a Prisoner of War-Missing in Action display if Mm it -4r 11 Trlbunt photo A Minuteman II missile and Canadian Indian totem pole stand tall In the park near Malmstrom's museum. Center was completed, two to the park and joined together to mobile classroom units no longer provide the foundation with a were needed.

These were moved museum building. The base also MO KIDDING PYlSS YOU CAN BUT FUOTCRE WITH 110 MONEY DOVtl 110 INTEREST NO PAYMENT TIL APRIL '93 CONGRATULATIONS MAFB ON YOUR 50 YEARS G-R-G-AT FAUL-S BENCH ADVERTW Serving the community of Great Falls for 30 years 30S-C53-5000 t-m 7T1 TI IT.