Air Force📍 Great Falls, MontanaActive: 1942–present
Asbestos Exposure at Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom AFB is home to the 341st Missile Wing and operates the largest Minuteman III ICBM field in the United States, with 150 missile launch facilities spread across central Montana. The base's missile maintenance crews, who work in underground facilities built in the 1960s, face ongoing asbestos hazards in aging missile silo infrastructure.
6,800Peak Workers
$30B+Trust Funds Available
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Medical and legal information reviewed and updated: • Sources: VA records, EPA Superfund data, NIOSH studies, litigation history
Asbestos History at Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom AFB is home to the 341st Missile Wing and operates the largest Minuteman III ICBM field in the United States, with 150 missile launch facilities spread across central Montana. The base's missile maintenance crews, who work in underground facilities built in the 1960s, face ongoing asbestos hazards in aging missile silo infrastructure.
Key Facts
Malmstrom AFB was established in 1942 as Gore Field and was redesignated in 1955 in honor of Col. Einar Axel Malmstrom.
Malmstrom operates and maintains 150 Minuteman III ICBMs across a 23,000-square-mile area of central Montana — the largest single ICBM field in the U.S.
The base was the first to receive Minuteman I ICBMs in 1962, and its launch control facilities and silos were built extensively with asbestos insulation and fireproofing.
Malmstrom missile maintenance personnel who enter launch control facilities and silos regularly encounter asbestos in the aging infrastructure built during the Kennedy administration.
The Air Force has ongoing asbestos abatement programs at Malmstrom, particularly focused on 1960s-era missile facility infrastructure.
Where Asbestos Was Found at Malmstrom Air Force Base
Asbestos was integrated into the infrastructure of virtually every military installation built before 1980. At Malmstrom Air Force Base, documented asbestos-containing materials were found in:
Minuteman III ICBM launch control facilities
Underground missile launch silos
Missile maintenance and overhaul facilities
Boiler plants and heating systems on base
WWII-era base buildings
Pipe insulation throughout base infrastructure
Alert and nuclear weapons handling facilities
Workers and service members in these areas faced chronic low-level exposure over the course of months or years. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, many veterans who served decades ago are only receiving diagnoses today.
Affected Occupations at Malmstrom Air Force Base
Certain occupational roles at Malmstrom Air Force Base carried significantly higher asbestos exposure risk due to direct contact with insulation, gaskets, pipe systems, and other asbestos-containing materials:
👷Missile maintenance crews (Minuteman III)
👷Launch control facility workers
👷Security forces at missile sites
👷Facilities maintenance workers
👷Pipefitters
👷Electricians
👷Construction and renovation workers
Even workers who did not directly handle asbestos — such as supervisors, inspectors, or administrative personnel who spent time in affected areas — may have experienced bystander exposure sufficient to cause mesothelioma decades later.
Asbestos Trust Funds for Malmstrom Air Force Base Veterans
The companies that manufactured and supplied asbestos-containing materials used at Malmstrom Air Force Base have established bankruptcy trust funds totaling over $30 billion to compensate victims. Veterans and workers exposed at this installation may be eligible to file claims against multiple trusts:
Johns-Manville
Owens Corning
W.R. Grace
Armstrong World Industries
Trust fund claims are separate from VA benefits — you can pursue both simultaneously. Most trust fund claims are resolved within 12 to 18 months. Our attorneys handle the entire process with no upfront cost.
VA Benefits for Malmstrom Air Force Base Veterans
Air Force veterans at this base encountered asbestos in aircraft maintenance hangars, missile facilities, base housing insulation, and technical operations buildings.
VA Disability & Healthcare Benefits
100% VA Disability Rating — Mesothelioma automatically qualifies for the maximum VA disability rating, providing monthly compensation of $3,737+ for a single veteran (2026 rates).
VA Healthcare — Full access to VA oncology centers, including specialized mesothelioma care at VA cancer centers.
Aid & Attendance — Additional monthly compensation for veterans who need help with daily activities due to illness.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — Monthly payments to surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans who died from service-connected asbestos diseases.
Vocational Rehabilitation — Job training and career services for veterans whose condition affects their ability to work.
Your Legal Rights as a Malmstrom Air Force Base Veteran
Veterans with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer have the right to file civil lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos products used at their base — separate from and in addition to VA claims. These lawsuits are filed against the asbestos companies, not the military, and do not affect your VA benefits.
Statute of Limitations — Act Before Your Deadline
Every state imposes a filing deadline — called the statute of limitations — for mesothelioma claims. In most states, you have 2 to 3 years from the date of diagnosis to file. Missing this deadline permanently bars your right to compensation.
Our attorneys have worked with veterans from Malmstrom Air Force Base and dozens of other military installations. We understand the unique exposure history, documentation requirements, and combination of VA + civil litigation strategies that maximize compensation for veterans and their families. No fees unless we win.
Free Case Review for Malmstrom Air Force Base Veterans
If you or a family member served at Malmstrom Air Force Base and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, contact us today. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and will review your case at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there asbestos at Malmstrom Air Force Base?
Yes. Malmstrom Air Force Base (Great Falls, Montana) has documented asbestos exposure from 1942–present. Asbestos was used in Minuteman III ICBM launch control facilities, Underground missile launch silos, Missile maintenance and overhaul facilities, and other areas throughout the installation. Asbestos-related diseases linked to this base include mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Can Air Force veterans from Malmstrom Air Force Base get compensation?
Yes. Veterans who served at Malmstrom Air Force Base and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for compensation from asbestos trust funds including Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, W.R. Grace. Personal injury lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers are also available. Our firm works on contingency — no fees unless we win.
What VA benefits are available for Malmstrom Air Force Base veterans?
Veterans who served at Malmstrom Air Force Base and developed asbestos-related diseases may qualify for VA disability compensation at up to 100% disability rating, VA healthcare including specialized oncology treatment, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for severe disability, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving family members.
Can family members of Malmstrom Air Force Base workers file claims?
Yes. Family members who were exposed to asbestos brought home on work clothing (called secondary or take-home exposure) and later developed mesothelioma may file their own compensation claims. Spouses who washed work uniforms and children who were regularly near an exposed worker face documented secondary exposure risk. Courts in all 50 states recognize these claims.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Danziger & De Llano, LLP. Every case is unique; outcomes depend on individual facts and circumstances. Statute of limitations deadlines vary by state. Contact an attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation.
