The British 4th Airborne Division was a deception division created as part of Operation Cascade

Operation Cascade

Operation Cascade was the codename for an Allied deception operation during World War II for the Middle East and North Africa. Operation Cascade was one of the first successful Allied deception operations in World War II, and provided valuable experience for later operations.-Background:In 1942,...

 in March of 1943.

History

As created, the unit was notionally based in Palestine 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 of 1943, when it was replaced with the notional 6th (Gurkha) Parachute Brigade.

The 4th Airborne Division was depicted as part of the British Twelfth Army in both operations Operation Barclay

Operation Barclay

Operation Barclay was an Allied deception plan in support of the invasion of Sicily, in 1943, during World War II.This operation was intended to deceive the Axis military commands as to the location of the expected Allied assault across the Mediterranean and divert attention and resources from Sicily...

, where it was supposed to be destined for an assault on Greece and Crete and Operation Zeppelin

Operation Zeppelin (Allies)

During World War II, Operation Zeppelin was a deception plan carried out by the Allies designed to depict a potential amphibious landing on Crete, western Greece, or the Romanian Black Sea coast...

, where it was presented as part of a simulated threat to Crete.

Insignia

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.

Composition

After the departure of the 4th Parachute Brigade, the 4th Airborne Division was composed of the following units.

• 1st Special Air Service Brigade
  • 1st Special Air Service Regiment
  • Detached Special Air Service Brigade
  • 6th Special Group

• 6th (Gurkha) Parachute Brigade
  • 6th Battalion, 6th Gurkha Regiment
  • 160th Parachute Regiment (Gurkha)
  • 161st Parachute Regiment (Gurkha)

• 7th Parachute Brigade
  • Greek Squadrons, Special Forces
  • French Parachute Battalion