| 2nd Airborne Division | |
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The divisional shoulder flash of the airborne forces |
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| Active | World War II |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Airborne |
| Role | diversion phantom formation |
The 2nd Airborne Division was a British Army deception unit of World War II. It comprised a small amount of personnel and equipment, especially radio communications, which aimed to mimic the activities of a real, 10,000 strong plus, division.
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The division was first referred to as part of the British II Corps of the British Fourth Army, with units based at Skegness and Grantham in Lincolnshire. For Fortitude South II the division along with the notional United States 9th and 21st Airborne Divisons were depicted as being under the direct control of the First United States Army Group and tasked with seizing key positions inland of the fictitious Pas de Calais beachheads.[1][2]
In the aftermath of Fortitude South, the notional 2nd Airborne Division, the notional United States 9th and 21st Airborne divisons and the real United States 17th Airborne Divisons to depict an airborne threat to the Kiel-Bremen area in support of Operation Market Garden. [3]
The division was disposed of in December 1944, by announcing that it had been disbanded to provide replacements for the 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions. [1]
Unlike the other fictitious (3rd, 4th & 5th) British Airborne Divisons, the 2nd used the same Pegasus insignia as the real 1st & 6th British Airborne Divisons.[1]
In addition to the usual divisional and support troops the 2nd consisted of:[1]
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