Capt. Michael Eastman and his C-5 transport crew are the first US airmen to land at Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, in the Soviet Union. They deliver sensitive verification equipment for monitoring nuclear tests under existing international agreements. Eastman and crew receive the 1988 Mackay Trophy.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.