bean ▁Air ▁Command ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 6 ▁USA AF ▁re organ ization , ▁and ▁its ▁successor ▁units ▁returned ▁to ▁its ▁pre war ▁mission , ▁the ▁defense ▁of ▁the ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ; ▁support ▁for ▁friendly ▁Latin ▁American ▁air ▁forces , ▁and ▁to ▁provide ▁support ▁to ▁Latin ▁American ▁nations ▁engaged ▁in ▁anti - comm un ist ▁activities ▁during ▁the ▁Cold ▁War . ▁Howard ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base ▁became ▁a ▁focus ▁for ▁military ▁air ▁support , ▁with ▁many ▁sur plus ▁US AF ▁aircraft ▁being ▁transferred ▁to ▁Latin ▁American ▁air ▁forces ▁there , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁the ▁Inter - American ▁Air ▁Forces ▁Academy , ▁which ▁provided ▁technical ▁training ▁and ▁education ▁for ▁air men ▁and ▁officers ▁from ▁approximately ▁ 1 4 ▁Latin ▁American ▁countries . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁post ▁Vietnam ▁War ▁draw down ▁of ▁the ▁US AF , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Forces ▁Southern ▁Command ▁was ▁in activ ated ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁for ▁budget ary ▁reasons . ▁Most ▁of ▁its ▁functions ▁and ▁resources ▁passed ▁to ▁the ▁T act ical ▁Air ▁Command , ▁which ▁established ▁the ▁US AF ▁Southern ▁Air ▁Division ▁( l ater ▁ 8 3 0 th ▁Air ▁Division ; ▁Air ▁Forces ▁Pan ama ) ▁as ▁the ▁US AF ▁component ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Ar med ▁Forces ▁in ▁the ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ▁Zone . ▁ ▁Line age ▁▁ ▁Est ab lished ▁as ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ▁Air ▁Force ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁ ▁Activ ated ▁as ▁a ▁Major ▁Command ▁on ▁