13th Airborne Division (United States)

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Maj. Gen. Elbridge G. Chapman and General McNair inspect the US 13th Airborne Division on May 13, 1944
Division shoulder piece

The 13th Airborne Division ( German  13th US Airborne Division ), which was also called "Black Cat Division" because it was founded on a Friday the 13th, was a large American paratrooper group , which never took part in a fight. The division was formed on August 13, 1943 in Camp Mackall , North Carolina , under the command of Major General George W. Griner , and moved to France in January 1945 .

The badge of the Division is an orange - golden , winged unicorn on an ultramarine blue shield . The unicorn is traditionally associated with the abilities of healing , bravery and power .

In December 1943, Griner was amended by Major General Eldridge G. Chapman , who already in the First World War had replaced excellent. Its chief of staff became Colonel Hugh P. Harris , who later became a four-star general . Although part of the 1st Allied Airborne Army in Europe, the division did not, by and large, take part in operations in the European theater of war. The division trained in France and was assigned to some operations that it did not perform. One of its units, the 517th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, assigned to the division on March 1, 1945, had fought in Italy , southern France and the Ardennes before it was subordinated to the US 13th Airborne Division. In August 1945, the division returned to the United States for regrouping before being relocated to the Pacific. However, the end of the war prevented its use in the Pacific.

The US 13th Airborne Division was disbanded on February 25, 1946. The personnel was transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg .

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