The division also encountered delays in mounting large-scale training exercises due to a lack of transport aircraft in the United States.

[2] As a consequence of these delays the division was not fully trained and combat-ready until January 1945, and was transferred to France and the European Theater of Operations in February.

[1] The division's shoulder patch, a winged unicorn in orange on an ultramarine blue, the branch of service colors of the United States Army Air Corps, was approved on 2 June 1943.

[14] The divisional training exercise took place around Camp Mackall, North Carolina, and suffered from a number of difficulties and problems.

[15] A combination of poor visibility, and a lack of sufficient training for the pilots of the transport aircraft, resulted in the paratroopers being dispersed widely when dropped.

[15] Further problems were encountered, as a plane crash killed eight paratroopers and four aircrew, and the glider-borne elements of the division due to land were delayed by poor weather.

[15] Overall, observers present for the exercise reported that they had been impressed with the performance of the glider-borne elements of the division.

[16][17] After completing its training in January the division was preparing to transfer to the Pacific Theatre in early 1945.

[18] The division arrived in the European Theater of Operations in early February, coming under the command of the First Allied Airborne Army, and Major General Chapman was informed that there was a possibility that the division would be required to conduct airborne operations during the closing stages of the Battle of the Bulge.

[3] The next chance for the 13th to participate in an airborne operation, and to actually see combat, was in March 1945 when the Allies had penetrated into Germany itself and reached the River Rhine.

A few weeks before the division was to participate in a combat jump over the Rhine it was reorganized, after a conference by the War Department had decided that a more efficient composition for an airborne division was two Parachute Infantry Regiments and only a single Glider Infantry Regiment.

[3] The 517th had recently fought during the Ardennes campaign, and had received a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions.

[4] After its removal from Operation Varsity, the division remained in reserve as the Allied armies advanced even further into Germany, moving to Oise, France, on 3 April for supply and administrative tasks.

[29] The division arrived in New York City on 23 August, but did not leave the United States before the surrender of Japan in September 1945.