Heroic Pigeons!!!!

Next time you refer to pigeons as aerial rats, just think they likely helped save your bacon (or your parent's/grand-parent's bacon) in World War II.

I just saw an intriguing program about use of pigeons in WW II.....

They were used to send intelligence messages from occupied Europe, at the Front after D Day to let command know whether a particular site had been taken or not, to call for reinforcements etc. Before counter-measures were taken by the Germans, the little blighters had a successful delivery rate of 98%!

The Germans realised this was happening, and used falcons to kill the little feathered messengers. One pigeon, Elizabeth of Exeter, was attacked and wounded by falcons on numerous occasions, sewn up, and resumed her missions. She died of old age in 1950.

The Brits killed a lot of their coastal falcons to cut down pigeon losses...then realised that German spies planted in Britain were also using pigeons, so they formed a falconry unit. Some of these falcons were trained to bring back the German pigeons, some of which were then used to spread disinformation!!

They also flew them over to spies on the continent...they were parachuted down in little boxes.

Some were deliberately chosen because of their poor flight ability...these were fitted with German pigeon tackle, and let loose with disinformation. They would join local flocks instead of flying home to England. Many ended up with German messenger flocks. If the Brits were really lucky, these birds would end up being dropped to German spies in England, and would then fly to their home lofts with German intelligence info attached!

Not only did we have the great air Battle of Britain for humans, we had a feathered Battle of Britain in the skies. Many pigeons lost their lives.


Many won the Dickin Medal...the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

It was a tough world for these little feathered conscripts.

Trapped in a war they never made.



Mind you, they are good at war with each other.


Here's to the pigeon!!!


Our hero:













Here is some pigeon soldier info:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4600865.stm


http://militaryhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/carrier_pigeons_in_the_word_wars


This site isn't working for me now...but looks interesting if it recovers:

http://www.monmouth.army.mil/museum/pigeons.shtml

Australian heroic pigeons:

http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww2/anecdotes/pigeons.html

The pouches used to house our heroes if they went into battle with their humans:






http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_pigeon

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/WwiiCarrierPigeonsBraveDeedsRemembered.htm