Militaria
Vintage RCAF No. 1 Air Division NATO Plaque | Cold War Fighter Jet Era Crest Shield | 'Defence of Europe' Motto | Made in UK
$144.10
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DetailsYES we can ship to the US!🇺🇸 Most of our antiques and vintage items ship duty-free or with fees already included (DDP – Delivered Duty Paid). This means the price you see at checkout is usually the total you’ll pay. In rare cases (especially for Canadian-made items), U.S. customs may apply additional import fees after shipping. Buyers are responsible for any duties or taxes upon delivery, but we always do our best to minimize or include them so your order arrives without surprises.
Please see below for Item Description...
FOR SALE ☞ PREMIUM VINTAGE RCAF No. 1 Air Division Plaque – Cold War NATO 'Defence of Europe' Crest Shield
DESCRIPTION ☞ A highly collectible piece of Cold War military history representing Canada's dedication to NATO and the defence of Europe. This is the crest for the No. 1 Air Division, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which was the headquarters for the twelve RCAF fighter squadrons stationed in France and West Germany from 1952 until 1967.
Key Historical Details:
The Unit: No. 1 Air Division commanded the famous Sabre and CF-104 Starfighter wings during Canada's pivotal Cold War presence in Europe.
Motto: The scroll carries the powerful Latin motto: "AD CUSTODIENDAM EUROPAM" (For the defence of Europe).
Crest Symbolism: The badge, featuring a golden maple leaf charged with two crossed sabres, symbolizes Canada's military commitment to the continent.
Provenance: This shield was produced overseas, evidenced by the "MADE IN GT BRITAIN" stamp on the hanging fixture on the reverse. These plaques were purchased by personnel stationed in Europe and are renowned for their quality craftsmanship.
Era Marker: The use of the older Tudor/King's Crown (vs. the Queen's Crown officially used after 1953) suggests this plaque dates to the very early years of the Air Division's formation (1952-1954), making it an early production piece from this significant Cold War formation.
This is a museum-quality artifact perfect for any collector of Canadian military, NATO, or Cold War history.
DIMENSIONS ☞
Height: Approximately 7 - 7.5 inches (18 - 19 cm)
Width (at widest point): Approximately 6 inches (15 cm)
CONDITION ☞ Vintage Excellent Condition. The wooden shield base is clean and features attractive wood grain with a glossy finish. The cast crest is bright, vibrant, and shows excellent detail with its hand-painted finish. There is minimal wear and no significant chips or scratches. The original "Made in GT Britain" hanging fixture is present and secured.
Please see photos. Color may differ slightly in real life from how it appears on your screen due to varying monitor settings. Have a question about this item or want to see more photos? Send us a message & we’ll get back to you ASAP!
ABOUT US ☞ Front Street Antiques is located in downtown historic Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada. We are a husband and wife team on the hunt for interesting items that inspire nostalgia and curiosity. As antique enthusiasts, we do our very best to describe any imperfections and quirks, as well as provide a general background on the item; however, we are not yet experts on every item in our store. If you have additional information about an item for us, please send us a message -- we are always grateful to learn more :)
PLEASE NOTE ☞ Item will be carefully packaged up and shipped within 3 business days of sale, often sooner. We combine shipping on multiple items -- please send us a message prior to purchase to give us a heads up & we will be happy to refund the difference upon shipping!
All our listings are considered collectible, retro/vintage (25+ years) or antique (100+ years) and are rarely brand new. The majority of our stock comes from auctions and private collections or estates. Items for sale may display some age related wear and/or minor flaws consistent with the date of manufacture. Photos are included as part of the description. Due to the age and nature of our stock, all items are sold "as is" and final sale unless damaged in transit and covered by insurance.
Items listed on our Etsy store are also available for sale in our physical store location and may sell at any time! Visit us in person to check out our wide variety of stock - 416 Front St. Kaslo, BC
We strive to earn 100% perfect "★★★★★" ratings from our customers. If anything about your transaction did not meet your expectations, please let us know ASAP and give us the opportunity to make things right before leaving feedback.
Be sure to check out our other listings on our etsy store: frontstantiques.etsy.com
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Shipping & Policies
Shipping from Canada
Processing time
1-3 business days
Estimated shipping times
- Canada : 3 - 10 business days
- United States : 5 - 14 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Customs and import taxes
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Payment Options
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept cancellations
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept returns?
For EU & UK buyers: As required by consumer law, most online purchases can be cancelled within 14 days of delivery. Certain exceptions apply (antiques, collectibles, items sold “for parts/repair”). Buyer pays return shipping, and refunds are issued only after the item is received and verified in its original condition.
For buyers outside the EU/UK (e.g. USA, Canada): All sales are considered final. Returns are not accepted except in cases of significant misrepresentation.Do you accept exchanges?
No. All of our items are considered one-offs and unique so we can not offer exchanges at this time.
Will I have to pay extra customs or duty fees if I’m in the U.S.?
We ship all U.S. orders using the most reliable method available. Some items (especially antiques over 100 years old or U.S.-made goods) are tariff-exempt under current rules. For other items, we do our best to pre-pay duties and include them in the price (known as DDP — Delivered Duty Paid) so what you see at checkout is what you’ll pay.
What does “DDP” mean?
DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid. It means we take care of the customs paperwork and fees on our end whenever possible. That way, your package clears the border smoothly and you won’t get a surprise bill on delivery.
Are there any exceptions?
Most antiques and U.S.-made vintage items ship duty-free. European pieces are usually covered by DDP (we pre-pay the duty and build it into the price). Canadian-made vintage can sometimes carry higher tariffs; in those rare cases, we’ll either adjust the listing price to reflect the duty or let you know up front if extra charges could apply. If you have any concerns regarding tariffs, please message us prior to purchase and we would be happy to do some research for you!
What happens if customs does charge extra?
We’re transparent about this from the start: buyers are responsible for any customs/import fees that may apply. That said, we always do our best to minimize the risk by using the right codes and carriers. If you have questions about a specific item, message us before checkout and we’ll give you an honest answer about what to expect.
Why do some Canadian shops say “buyer is responsible for duty”?
That’s Etsy’s default policy. We go a step further by explaining how duties work and when we can cover them. Our goal is to make your buying experience smooth and surprise-free.
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