Document Source: Order of Battle of the United States Army, World War II, European Theater of Operations. Office of the Theater Historian, Paris, France, December 20, 1945.
13th Airborne Division, Black Cat Division.
The division insignia is a winged Unicorn in golden orange placed on an ultramarine blue shield. The Unicorn is associated, by tradition, with the qualities of virtue, courage, and strength. The division is commonly known as the Black Cat Division because of the flaunting of superstition during its activation on Friday, August 13, 1943.
Commanding General
Maj Gen Eldridge G. Chapman, Feb 6, 1945 – Deativation
Assistant Division Commander
Brig Gen Hammond M. Monroe – Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Division Artillery
Brig Gen Eric S. Molitor, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Chief of Staff
Col Hugh F. Harris, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Assistant G-1
Lt Col Bernard G. Teeters, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Assistant G-2
Lt Col William J. Blythe, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Assistant G-3
Lt Col Frederick O. Hartel, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Assistant G-4
Lt Col Sigfried E. Carlson, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Adjutant General
Lt Col Samuel A. Lewis, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
515th Parachute Infantry
Lt Col Harley N. Trice, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Col Harvey J. Jablonsky, Feb 12, 1945 – Deactivation
517th Parachute Infantry
Col Rupert D. Graves, Mar 1, 1945 – Deactivation
326th Glider Infantry
Col William O. Pointdexter, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
88th Glider Infantry
Col Samuel Roth, Feb 6, 1945 – Deactivation
Chronology
Activated, August 13, 1943.
Arrived ETO, February 6, 1945.
Arrived Continent, February 10, 1945.
Entered Combat, No Combat.
Days in Combat, None.
Casualties
Did not enter combat.
Campaign
Central Europe
Awards
Legion of Merit, 6
Bronze Star, 39
Note: the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment was disbanded on March 1, 1945. The 515th Parachute Infantry Regiment, assigned to the division on March 10, 1944, was replaced by the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment on the same date. In 1943, the division contained also the 189th Glider Infantry Regiment and the 190th Glider Infantry Regiment which were disbanded on December 4-8, 1943, and replaced by the 88th and the 326th Glider Infantry Regiments.
Order of Battle (1945)
515th Parachute Infantry Regiment
517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
88th Glider Infantry Regiment
326th Glider Infantry Regiment
222nd Airborne Medical Company
13th Parachute Maintenance Company
129th Airborne Engineer Battalion
153rd Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion
13th Airborne Division Artillery
458th Parachute Field Artillery Bn (75-MM)
460th Parachute Field Artillery Bn (75-MM)
676th Glider Field Artillery Bn {75-MM)
677th Glider Field Artillery Bn (75-MM)
409th Airborne Quartermaster Company
Special Troops
HQs Company, 13th Airborne Division
Military Police Platoon
713th Airborne Ordnance Maintenance Company
513th Airborne Signal Company
Reconnaissance Platoon
Band
Narrative
The 13th Airborne Division arrived in France on February 6, 1945, and was never sent to combat. The division didn’t participate in Operation Varsity in Germany because of the insufficient airlift. It remained in France until August 15, 1945, and was sent back to the USA to be disbanded.
