The Eighteenth Corps was activated on October
10th, 1943 with Headquarters at the Presidio of
Monterey, California, when the II Armored Corps was
redesignated. On November 5th, 1943, the Corps
Headquarters moved to Camp Bowie, Texas, and participated
in the Louisiana maneuvers in the spring of 1944 before
proceeding to Texas for additional maneuvers through May 11th.
After completion of the Texas maneuvers, the XVIII moved to
Fort Dupont, Delaware, where it remained until embarking for
the European theater on August 27th, 1944. After arriving
at Ogbourne, St. George, England, on August 27th, 1944,
the Eighteenth was notified that it had been redesignated
as an Airborne Corps

The shoulder patch worn by the XVIII Corps prior to being
designated "Airborne" was approved by the QMG on February 15th,
1944. The colors blue and and white are the Corps' colors,
and the dragon's head is representative of cunning, endurance,
and ferocity against enemies and is symbolic of the strategy
and powerful attack potential of the Corps.