One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University

1986–87
June 19: All USAF Rapier surface-to-air missile units in Europe became
operationally ready.
July 19–28: Twenty-four C–141 Starlifters and eight C–130 Hercules aircraft
flew 32 missions during Operation SOUTHERN HAYLIFT, supplying
some 536 tons of donated hay (more than 19,000 bales) to droughtstricken
farmers in several southeastern states. The operation saved
hundreds of cattle as well as the livelihoods of a great many Southern
livestock farmers.
October 1: The Goldwater-Nichols Act reorganized the Department of
Defense’s chain of command, giving theater commanders increased
control of forces provided from the various armed services.
October 10: The Air Force placed the LGM–118A, also called the Peacekeeper
or MX missile, on alert duty. Each of these new intercontinental
ballistic missiles could deliver warheads to 10 different targets.
The Peacekeeper, a four-stage intercontinental ballistic missile, became operational
near the end of the Cold War.
December 23: Richard G. Rutan and Jeana L. Yeager completed the first
nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world in an experimental aircraft
called Voyager. They covered 24,986.7 miles after taking off from
Edwards Air Force Base, California, on December 14.
1987
May 5: Strategic Air Command removed the last liquid-fueled Titan II missile
from alert duty at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, ending the
operational life of the nation’s largest intercontinental ballistic missile
and the last one with liquid fuel.
132