With the increasing tension between the east and the west in Europe after the Second World War, the European communities of the west started discussing a plan for a united defence. From these discussions came the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 1 Air Division was formed as Canada's air contribution to NATO. It was to consist of four wings of day fighters. These wings were to be located on the continent and because of the damage to the established airfields, new airfields were to be constructed. Canada would deploy two wings to France (Marville and Grostenquin) and two wings to Germany (Zweibrucken and Pferdsfeld). RCAF personnel began the entire operation with the establishment of a headquarters in Paris France, which was subsequently relocated to Metz in April 1953. The RCAF's original concept for overseas service were tours of one year unaccompanied for married personnel and two years for single personnel. This changed by late 1953, when it was realized that many families were going to Europe with their spouses.

1 Wing - Because the airfield at Marville would not be available for some time, it was decided to locate 1 Wing at North Luffenham in England. The first squadron for 1 Wing (410 Squadron) crossed the Atlantic onboard the HMCS Magnificent (an RCN aircraft carrier) in November 1951. The aircraft for 441 Squadron were also on the HMCS Magnificent. Aircrew and groundcrew personnel for 441 Squadron crossed the Atlantic on the "Empress of France" in February 1952. Upon their arrival in England they deployed to RCAF Station North Luffenham, where they stayed until Marville was ready for occupation in March 1955. 439 Squadron departed Uplands on May 30th, 1952, and flew across the Atlantic in operation Leapfrog I, flying to Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and onwards to North Luffenham.

2 Wing - Leapfrog II saw all three squadrons of 2 Wing fly across the Atlantic to arrive at their new home at Grostenquin, France in October 1952. Considered ready for occupation by the French, it was far from being ready by Canadian standards and life on the continent by these intrepid aviators was far from easy.

3 Wing- The most famous of all Leapfrogs was number III. It took a month to complete (March 7 to April 7, 1953) and it left many a Sabre driver frazzled by the time the three squadrons (413, 427 and 343) staggered into Zweibrucken, Germany.

4 Wing - In early 1952 it was realized that when the aircraft and personned destined for 4 Wing were ready in Canada to fly across, their new home in Pferdsfeld would not be complete. The French Air Force offered Canada one of her deployment bases in Germany and alternate plans were devised. RCAF aircraft destined for operation at 4 Wing made a fast crossing on Leapfrog IV, arriving at Baden-Soellingen on 4 September 1953.

By 1955 NATO realized that there was a shortage of all weather interceptor capability and Canada responded by volunteering four CF-100 squadrons for service to NATO. Between October 1956 and August 1957, one Sabre squadron per Wing was stood-down and replaced by a CF-100 squadron from Canada. In the fall of 1959, the Canadian government announced that starting in the fall of 1962 the Sabre squadrons of the Air Division would be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighters and the CF-100 squadrons would be disbanded.

This new equipment brought a new role to the Air Division. Instead of the Day/All Weather interceptor role, the Canadian Squadrons would now be involved with nuclear strike and reconnaissance. However, during 1964 the cold winds of change were blowing and the French government announced that all nuclear weapons located on French soil would fall under French control. Therefore, in late 1963 after being recently re-equipped with the CF-104, 2 Wing sent their two squadrons to the two wings in Germany and closed their doors at Grostenquin in 1964. The other wing in France (1 Wing Marville) converted to strictly reconnaissance, and the communications flight (109 KU) for the Air Division moved to Marville from Grostenquin. In March 1966, the French government announced the withdrawal of their military forces from NATO and the NATO forces stationed in France must leave (or fall under French command). New quarters were found for 1 Wing and 1 Air Division HQ at Base Arienne 139 Lahr, West Germany. The move of the operational equipment was accomplished by March 1967. Because the French were loath to move out of Lahr, the dependants and schools were moved later.

As an austerity measure, in 1968 3 Wing Zweibrucken was closed and its two squadrons were moved to 1 Wing, now located at Lahr and 4 Wing at Baden Soellingen. 1969 brought the announcement that the amalgamation of the Canadian Forces in Europe to one command and two bases, and that the Canadian army in northern Germany (Soest area) would be moving south to 1 Wing and 4 Wing. This meant that 1 Wing Lahr would close its doors and the air force in Europe would be reduced in strength (from 6 to 3 squadrons) and concentrated at Baden-Soellingen; the new name would be 1 Canadian Air Group (CAG). The Group remained until 1988 when Canada increased her commitment to NATO (3 squadrons in theatre and two squadrons in Canada) and 1 Canadian Air Division stood-up again. However, shortly after this, relations with the east started to warm and Canada made another announcement; Canada would withdraw her forces stationed in Europe and close the doors on her two bases by 1994. The Air Division, reduced to three squadrons then to two and finally one, ceased flying operations 1 January 1993. This ended a major era of Canada's Air Force. "Ad Custodiendam Europam" (For the Defence of Europe).

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