Winkie the War Hero

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🕊️ Meet Winkie: the little pigeon who made history

In the bitter cold and darkest night of 1942, a British bomber crashed into the North Sea. The crew, stranded and helpless, had no way to call for help. Yet their small, feathered companion had one final mission.

Winkie, a humble homing pigeon, was released from the sinking plane. With wings heavy from oil, met by darkness and storm, she flew 120 miles toward home. Exhausted and battered, she arrived in the early dawn, where her owner alerted the RAF.

Using her flight time, wind data, and knowledge of her impaired speed, rescuers worked quickly — and within minutes, the stranded crew were located and brought to safety.

For that act of bravery, on 2 December 1943, Winkie became one of the first recipients of the Dickin Medal — the highest honour for animals in wartime, sometimes known as the “animal’s Victoria Cross.”

In 2023, Dundee unveiled a statue in her honour, ensuring her story of courage, hope, and devotion lives on.

Let us remember Winkie today — not just as a hero of war, but as a symbol of the extraordinary in the ordinary. 🌟