This week in history: May 17 - May 23 Published May 20, 2009 By John Murphy 436th AW historian DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- May 20, 1926: The Federal government formed a new agency under the Department of Commerce called the Aeronautics branch. This new branch of the Commerce Department dealt with safety issues, pilot certification and minimum airfield requirements for the increasing activity in aerial transportation. May 18, 1966: A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft made an emergency landing at Dover Air Force Base. The aircraft experienced maneuverability difficulty after a parachute became entangled on its tail section. The propeller-driven plane was performing material air drop exercises for the All-American Engineering Company located in Georgetown, Del. May 20, 1979: The Secretary of the Air Force chose a C-5 Galaxy mission to the central African country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire, as the most meritorious U.S. Air Force flight of the year. Two 436th Military Airlift Wing flying units, the 3rd and 9th Military Airlift Squadrons, shared in the achievement for their efforts and received the prestigious Mackay Trophy for 1978. This marked the third time the wing won this award.