▁mobil ization ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁Corps ▁war r anted ▁a ▁new ▁organization , ▁and ▁the ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ▁Air ▁Force ▁was ▁created ▁as ▁a ▁major ▁command . ▁After ▁several ▁organiz ational ▁changes ▁and ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Air ▁Forces ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Six th ▁Air ▁Force ▁became ▁the ▁cont rolling ▁Air ▁Force ▁command ▁authority ▁for ▁USA AF ▁activities ▁in ▁the ▁Car ib bean , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁in ▁Central ▁and ▁South ▁America . ▁Through ▁all ▁these ▁red es ign ations ▁it ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Car ib bean ▁Def ense ▁Command , ▁( 1 0 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁– ▁ 1 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 7 ), ▁which ▁was ▁the ▁senior ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁headquarters ▁in ▁the ▁Canal ▁Zone . ▁The ▁Car ib bean ▁Inter ceptor ▁Command , ▁was ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁component ▁( 1 0 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁– ▁ 1 7 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 1 ) ▁of ▁the ▁C IC ▁until ▁being ▁in activ ated ▁and ▁replaced ▁by ▁VI ▁Inter ceptor ▁Command . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁▁ ▁In ▁early ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁the ▁Naz i ▁Germany ' s ▁Kriegs marine , ▁began ▁anti - sh ipping ▁operations ▁using ▁U - Bo ats ▁in ▁the ▁Car ib bean . ▁The ▁subs ▁s ank ▁several ▁tank ers ▁in ▁the ▁har bor ▁at ▁Sint ▁Nich ola as , ▁Ar uba ▁and ▁even ▁sh elled ▁an ▁oil ▁ref in ery ▁on ▁the ▁island . ▁It '