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 by its activation on Friday, 13 August 1943.
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COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
| 6 Feb 45 | Maj. Gen. Elbridge G. Chapman |
Assistant Division Commander
| 6 Feb 45 | Brig. Gen. Hammond M. Monroe |
Artillery Commander
| 6 Feb 45 | Brig. Gen. Eric S. Molitor |
Chief of Staff
| 6 Feb 45 | Col. Hugh P. Harris |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
| 6 Feb 45 | Lt. Col. Bernard G. Teeters |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
| 6 Feb 45 | Lt. Col. William J. Blythe |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
| 6 Feb 45 | Lt. Col. Frederick O. Hartel |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
| 6 Feb 45 | Lt. Col. Sigfried E. Carlson |
Adjutant General
| 6 Feb 45 | Lt. Col. Samuel A. Lewis |
Commanding Officer, 515th Parachute Infantry
| 6 Feb 45 | Lt. Col. Harley N. Trice |
| 12 Feb 45 | Col. Harvey J. Jablonsky |
Commanding Officer, 517th Parachute Infantry
| 1 Mar 45 (Regiment assigned) | Col. Rupert D. Graves |
Commanding Officer, 88th Glider Infantry*
| 6 Feb 45 | Col. Samuel Roth |
Commanding Officer, th Infantry
| 6 Feb 45 | Col. William O. Poindexter |
* Regiment disbanded 1 Mar 45.
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STATISTICS
Chronology
| Activated | 13 August 1943 |
| Arrived ETO | 6 February 1945 |
| Arrived Continent (D+249) | 10 February 1945 |
| Entered Combat | No Combat |
| Days in Combat | 0 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Did not enter combat
Campaigns
None
Individual Awards
| Legion of Merit | 6 |
| Bronze Star | 39 |
Prisoners of War Taken None
COMPOSITION
515th Parachute Infantry
517th Parachute Infantry [assigned 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
88th Glider Infantry [disbanded 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
326th Glider Infantry
13th Parachute Maintenance Company
129th Airborne Engineer Battalion
222d Airborne Medical Company
153d Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
13th Airborne Division Artillery
676th Glider Field Artillery Battalion
677th Glider Field Artillery Battalion
458th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion [assigned 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
Special Troops [Headquarters activated 1 Mar 45]
713th Airborne Ordnance Company
409th Airborne Quartermaster Company
513th Airborne Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Reconnaissance Platoon
Band
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ATTACHMENTS
None
[page 91]
DETACHMENTS
None
[page 91]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
| DATE | CORPS | ARMY | ARMY GROUP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assigned | Attached | Assigned | Attached | ||
| 6 Feb 45 | XVIII Abn | First Allied Abn | ETOUSA | ||
| 2 Apr 45 | (-) | (-) | |||
| 3 Apr 45 | First Allied Abn | Oise Sect., Com Z (Sup & Admin) | |||
[page 92]
COMMAND POSTS
| DATE | TOWN | REGION | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb 45 | Camp Lucky Strike (vic. Fecamp) | Seine-Inferieure | France |
| 24 Feb 45 | Auxerre | Yonne | France |
| 4 Apr 45 | Airfield A-48 (vic. Arpajon) | Seine-et-Oise | France |
[page 93]