United States Air Force in France During the early years of the Cold War , the United States Air Force deployed thousands of personnel and hundreds of combat aircraft to France to counter the buildup of Soviet forces in Eastern Europe . In the autumn of 1967 all foreign military bases were closed down and since then only French military bases exist within the borders of the French fifth Republic ( date = nov 2012 ) . The Cold War that developed in Europe during 1948 and escalated into the attempted seizure of West Berlin , convinced the western nations to form a common defense organization . Discussions led to a multinational defense agreement that evolved into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) . A central NATO defense strategy was the use of tactical air power to offset the Soviet Union . Due to the vulnerability of West Germany to Soviet attack , USAF planners did not want any new tactical air units moved into the US " Zone of Occupation " there . By 1950 , the United States Air Force in Europe ( USAFE ) wanted all tactical air units to be located west of the Rhine River to provide greater air defense warning time and France agreed to provide air base sites . Between 1950 and 1967 the United States Air Force operated 11 major air bases in France . They were : There were other communications sites , NATO Dispersed Operating Bases , Sub - Depots and minor facilities at several French Airports , such as Paris - Orly Airport and Marseille which are not shown on this map . The United States Army also established a significant presence in France , and was responsible for much of the construction and maintenance of the Air Bases established there . The NATO Dispersed Operating Bases was a programme begun in 1953 by USAFE . They were constructed in France and were completed in about two years . Each was built to a standard NATO design of a runway . Four DOBs were built for USAFE use . They were designed to have the capability to base about 30 aircraft , along with a few permanent buildings serviced with utilities and space for a tent city to house personnel . The first NATO tenant in France was the USAF Military Air Transport Service ( MATS ) 1630th Air Base Squadron , activated in June 1950 at Paris - Orly Air Base . On 28 February 1958 the official name of Orly Air Base was changed to Orly Airport and most MATS flights were routed to Chateauroux - Deols Air Base . After 15 years of USAFE basing in France General Charles De Gaulle decided end end the integration . On 7 March 1966 , he announced that France would withdraw from NATO ' s integrated military structure but not leave the political organization . He gave NATO forces one year to depart France . The State Department , Department of Defense ( DOD ) , and Air Force carefully managed the news about the American departure from France , and the attendant problems of an integrated NATO air defense for western Europe and the decrease in tactical airpower . Due media was focus on Vietnam the removal of NATO forces from France went virtually unreported in the US . During 1966 - 67 all USAF offices and facilities in France were closed and personnel and equipment moved to other NATO countries . The last USAFE activities were the 1630th Air Base Squadron at Orly Airport and the Paris Administration Office . Both were closed in June 1967 . A C - 47 variant , the C - 117B " Super Skytrain " Serial 45 - 2549 was the last USAF aircraft to leave France , departing from Orly on 31 May 1967 . On 23 October 1967 , all foreign flags were furled and after 17 years the last NATO forces departed France . Today most of the old USAF air bases in France are being used by the French military and are not accessible to tourists .