The 44th Division (Chinese: 第44师) was created in February 1949 under the Regulation of the Redesignations of All Organizations and Units of the Army, issued by the Central Military Commission on November 1, 1948, basing on the 26th Brigade, 9th Column of PLA Zhongyuan Field Army, formed in late 1946.

It suffered heavy casualties to American forces at the Battle of Hwacheon.

The division was then transferred to the Air Force, along with the now 15th Airborne Corps.

In 1983, the division's 130th Regiment was re-organized as a catalogue B training unit.

It took part in the enforced martial law and the crackdown on protests in Beijing, June 1989.