| 4th Airborne Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | World War II |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Airborne |
| Role | diversion phantom formation |
The British 4th Airborne Division was a deception division created as part of Operation Cascade in March 1943.
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As created, the unit was notionally based in Palestine[1] and incorporated both the fictitious 1st Special Air Service Brigade created during Operation Abeam and the real 4th Parachute Brigade until that unit was assigned to the 1st Airborne Division in June 1943, when it was replaced with the notional 6th (Gurkha) Parachute Brigade.[1]
The 4th Airborne Division was depicted as part of the British Twelfth Army in both operations Operation Barclay, where it was supposed to be destined for an assault on Greece and Crete and Operation Zeppelin, where it was presented as part of a simulated threat to Crete.[1]
Unlike the real 1st & 6th Airborne Divisions and the fictitious 2nd Airborne Division, the 4th Airborne Division was given its own insignia. This took the form of an open white parachute with black wings on a blue background.[1]
After the departure of the 4th Parachute Brigade, the 4th Airborne Division was composed of the following units.
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