The 13th Airborne Division was activated into service on August 13, 1943 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. For the next several months, the Division received troops into its ranks from existing units and schools and hastily put them through parachute training. By years end, the Division was ready for deployment to Europe and moved to New York for embarkation.

The Division departed New York harbor on January 26, 1945 and arrived in Cherbourg, France the following month. Upon arrival the Division moved into staging and training areas and took delivery of their equipment and supplies.

The 13th Division was slated for a combat parachute drop in Operation VARSITY but was instead transferred to Corps Reserve because of a lack of transport aircraft. Soon after, the war in Europe ended and the Division stood down. The 13th Airborne never entered combat.

The 13th Airborne returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina on August 26, 1945 and was officially deactivated on February 25, 1946. The Division has never been reactivated.