Iowa City, Iowa, US
Air National Guard
MAJ, 249th Airlift Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard
7/28/2010, Anchorage, USA
Major Aaron Wallace Malone was born Feb. 3, 1974, in Iowa City, Iowa. He was killed in a tragic airplane crash at Elmendorf AFB Anchorage, Alaska, on July 28, 2010, while doing a practice flight in a C-17 Globemaster for the Arctic Thunder Air Show. Aaron lived with his family in Iowa until graduating from North-Linn High School in 1992. After graduation, Aaron moved to Anchorage, Alaska. He worked for Era Aviation in Anchorage, while attending college he met his wife, Melanie Smith of Anchorage. They were married in Bellevue, Wash., in August 1996. They have three sons, Jacob, 11, Jeffrey, 8 and Alexander, 3.
Aaron graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Science. Most recently, Aaron was working toward a Master’s Degree in Family Financial planning from Iowa State University. He had only two classes left to complete his degree. In 1997, Major Malone was hired by the South Dakota Air Guard to fly F-16. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant by his older brother, LCDR William Malone in 1998. He attended pilot training at Vance AFB in Oklahoma, where he graduated with an award in Academic Excellence.
Major Malone was hired as a 1st Officer for Alaska Airlines in July 2001. He relocated to Great Falls, Mont., to continue flying the F-16 for the Montana Air National Guard. Immediately following September 11, Major Malone was activated to duty with the Air National Guard leading to a deployment to the Middle East patrolling the southern no-fly zone. In 2005, the family relocated Eagle River. Major Malone was hired by the Alaska Air National Guard in 2007 to join the newly formed 249th Airlift Squadron flying the C-17.
As a young boy, Aaron was avid baseball player, an interest he held throughout his life. Aaron, loved practical jokes, 4 wheeling, snow machining, camping and spending time with family and friends. Aaron considered himself a cigar aficionado. Aaron was an avid Seahawks and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He also had a purple belt in Karate, a family activity which he shared with his wife and sons. In addition he co-coached Little League with Major Michael Freyholtz, who was also killed in the crash. Aaron was a mentor in the Alaska Military Youth Academy.
He was a dedicated soldier and aviator who loved flying and the talented people he worked beside. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and co-workers at Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Air Guard. Aaron is survived by his wife, Melanie; three sons, Jacob, Jeffrey and Alex; his parents, Dennis and Karol Malone; a brother, William; two sisters, Katherine and Karrie; and a large extended family.
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