Guest Silverwings Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 anyone have a contact for a possible ww2 pigeon in military use display? the organiser of our forthcoming college event has asked me to try and get some information for her ........ray
Guest spin cycle Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 don't know really what you're after but perhaps the imperial war museum at duxford could help ?
pjc Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 Contact Colin Hill as he is looking after the Display at Bletchley Park in conjunction with the RPRA
blaz Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 jimmy white from the forum i think will be able to help
Guest bakes Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 abit of info for you bud i found of the internet all the best k baker. Pigeons in War At the outbreak of World War 2 thousands of Britain’s pigeon fanciers gave their pigeons to the war effort to act as message carriers. During the period of the war nearly a quarter of a million birds were used by the army, the RAF and the Civil Defence Services including the police, the fire service, Home Guard and even Bletchley Park. Pigeon racing was stopped and birds of prey along the coasts of Britain were culled so that British pigeons could arrive home unhindered by these predators. There were tight controls on the keeping of pigeons and even rationing for pigeon corn. Homing pigeons were used not only in Western Europe by British forces but also by American, Canadian, and German forces in other parts of the world during the war – Italy, Greece, North Africa, India and the Middle and Far East. One pigeon, GI Joe, saved the lives of thousands of British troops who were preparing to take an Italian town after the US Air Force had bombarded the Germans. However, the British forces found no resistance from the Germans and so entered the town unchallenged. Unfortunately the USAF were already en route to bomb the town and with radio contact broken GI Joe fly over a mile a minute (60 mph) back to the base. He arrived back just in time for the air raid to be called off before the USAF would have bombed our troops. All RAF bombers and reconnaissance aircraft carried pigeons and, if the aircraft had to ditch, the plane’s co-ordinates were sent back with the pigeon to its RAF base and a search and rescue operation was effected. Thousands of servicemen’s lives were saved by these heroic birds that flew often in extreme circumstances. During World War II homing pigeons were seconded into the National Pigeon Service from Britain’s fanciers including one from the Royal Lofts. In fact one pigeon, Royal Blue, was the first pigeon to bring a message from a force-landed aircraft on the continent. On the 10th October 1940 this young bird was released in Holland. He flew 120 miles in 4 hours 10 minutes reporting the information regarding the situation of the crew. After the war, the Dickin Medal was instituted. Commonly known as the Animal VC, it was awarded to 53 animals including 32 homing pigeons including Royal Blue. Pigeons carried their messages either in special message containers on their legs or small pouches looped over their backs. Quite often pigeons were dropped by parachute in containers to Resistance workers in France, Belgium and Holland. This was often quite precarious as it was a bumpy landing and very dangerous for the Resistance workers if they were caught with a British pigeon. Aircrew carried their pigeons in special watertight baskets and containers, in case the aircraft had to ditch into the sea. Pigeon lofts were built at RAF and army bases but the mobile lofts had to be constructed so that they could move easily over land. The Dickin Medal was awarded for any animal displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during World War II and its aftermath. Of the 53 Dickin Medals presented, 32 went to pigeons. The founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, Mrs Maria Dickin, instituted the award, popularly referred to as the ‘Animal VC’, and was made only upon official recommendation and was exclusive to the animal kingdom. One of the most famous pigeons was called ‘White Vision’. It received its Dickin Medal for “delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an air crew while serving with the RAF in October 1943â€. This hardly tells the story! A Catalina flying boat had to ditch in the Hebrides at 0820 hrs one morning. Sea rescue operations were hindered by very bad weather and air search was impossible because of thick mist. At 1700 hrs that afternoon White Vision arrived at her loft with a message giving the position of the ditched aircraft and as a result the search was resumed, the aircraft sighted and rescue of the crew effected. White Vision had flown 60 miles over heavy seas against a headwind of 25 miles per hour with visibility only a hundred yards at the place of release and three hundred yards at the place of arrival. DICKIN MEDAL WINNERS White Vision Pigeon  SURP.41.L.3089 Date of Award: 2 December 1943 “For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew while serving with the RAF in October 1943.†Winkie Pigeon  NEHU.40.NS.1 Date of Award: 2 December 1943 “For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew while serving with the RAF in February, 1942.†Tyke (also known as George) Pigeon  Number 1263 MEPS 43 Date of Award: 2 December 1943 “For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew, while serving with the RAF in the Mediterranean in June, 1943.†Beach Comber Pigeon  NPS.41.NS.4230 Date of Award: 6 March 1944 “For bringing the first news to this country of the landing at Dieppe, under hazardous conditions in September, 1942, while serving with the Canadian Army.†Gustav Pigeon  NPS.42.31066 Date of Award: 1 September 1944 “For delivering the first message from the Normandy Beaches from a ship off the beach-head while serving with the RAF on 6 June 1944.†Paddy Pigeon  NPS.43.9451 Date of Award: 1 September 1944 “For the best recorded time with a message from the Normandy Operations, while serving with the RAF in June, 1944.†Kenley Lass Pigeon  NURP.36.JH.190 Date of Award: March 1945 “For being the first pigeon to be used with success for secret communications from an Agent in enemy-occupied France while serving with the NPS in October 1940.†Navy Blue Pigeon  NPS.41.NS.2862 Date of Award: March 1945 “For delivering an important message from a Raiding Party on the West Coast of France, although injured, while serving with the RAF in June, 1944. Flying Dutchman Pigeon – NPS.42.NS.44802 Date of Award: March 1945 “For successfully delivering messages from Agents in Holland on three occasions. Missing on fourth mission, while serving with the RAF in 1944.†Dutch Coast Pigeon  NURP.41. A.2164 Date of Award: March 1945 “For delivering an SOS from a ditched Air Crew close to the enemy coast 288 miles distance in 7½ hours, under unfavourable conditions, while serving with the RAF in April 1942.†Commando Pigeon  NURP.38.EGU.242 Date of Award: March 1945 “For successfully delivering messages from Agents in Occupied France on three occasions: twice under exceptionally adverse conditions, while serving with the NPS in 1942.†Royal Blue Pigeon  NURP.40.GVIS.453 Date of award: March 1945 “For being the first pigeon in this war to deliver a message from a forced landed aircraft on the Continent while serving with the RAF in October, 1940.†Ruhr Express Pigeon  NPS.43.29018 Date of Award: May 1945 “For carrying an important message from the Ruhr Pocket in excellent time, while serving with the RAF in April, 1945.†William of Orange Pigeon  NPS.42.NS.15125 Date of Award: May 1945 “For delivering a message from the Arnheim Airborne Operation in record time for any single pigeon, while serving with the APS in September 1944.†Scotch Lass Pigeon  NPS.42.21610 Date of Award: June 1945 “For bringing 38 microphotographs across the North Sea in good time although injured, while serving with the RAF in Holland in September 1944.†Billy Pigeon  NU.41.HQ.4373 Date of Award: August 1945 “For delivering a message from a force-landed bomber, while in a state of complete collapse and under exceptionally bad weather conditions, while serving with the RAF in 1942.†Broad Arrow Pigeon  41.BA.2793 Date of Award: October 1945 “For bringing important messages three times from enemy occupied country, viz: May 1943, June 1943 and August 1943, while serving with the Special Service from the Continent.†Pigeon  NPS.42.NS.2780 Date of Award: October 1945 “For bringing important messages three times from enemy occupied country, viz: July 1942, August 1942 and April 1943, while serving with the Special Service from the Continent.†Pigeon  NPS.42.NS.7524 Date of Award: October 1945 “For bringing important messages three times from enemy-occupied country, viz: July 1942, May 1943 and July 1943, while serving with the Special Service from the continent.†Maquis Pigeon  NPSNS.42.36392 Date of Award: October 1945 “For bringing important messages three times from enemy occupied country, viz: May 1943 (Amiens) February, 1944 (Combined Operations) and June, 1944 (French Maquis) while serving with the Special Service from the Continent.†Mary Pigeon  NURP.40.WCE.249 Date of Award: November 1945 “For outstanding endurance on War Service in spite of wounds.†Tommy Pigeon  NURP.41.DHZ56 Date of Award: February 1946 “For delivering a valuable message from Holland to Lancashire under difficult conditions, while serving with NPS in July 1942.†All Alone Pigeon  NURP.39.SDS.39 Date of Award: February 1946 “For delivering an important message in one day over a distance of 400 miles, while serving with the NPS in August, 1943.†Princess Pigeon  42WD593 Date of Award: May 1946 “Sent on special mission to Crete, this pigeon returned to her loft (RAFAlexandria) having travelled about 500 miles mostly over sea, with most valuable information. One of the finest performances in the war record of the Pigeon Service.†Mercury Pigeon  NURP.37.CEN.335 Date of Award: August 1946 “For carrying out a special task involving a flight of 480 miles from Northern Denmark while serving with the Special Section Army Pigeon Service in July 1942.†Pigeon  NURP.38.BPC.6. Date of Award: August 1946 “For three outstanding flights from France while serving with the Special Section, Army Pigeon Service, 11 July 1941, 9 September 1941, and 29 November 1941.†GI Joe Pigeon  USA43SC6390 Date of Award: August 1946 “This bird is credited with making the most outstanding flight by a USA Army Pigeon in World War II. Making the 20 mile flight from British 10th Army HQ, in the same number of minutes, it brought a message which arrived just in time to save the lives of at least 100 Allied soldiers from being bombed by their own planes.†Duke of Normandy Pigeon  NURP.41.SBC.219 Date of Award: 8 January 1947 “For being the first bird to arrive with a message from Paratroops of 21st Army Group behind enemy lines on D Day 6 June, 1944, while serving with APS.†Pigeon  NURP.43.CC.1418 Date of Award: 8 January 1947 “For the fastest flight with message from 6th Airborne Div. Normandy, 7 June, 1944, while serving with APS.†Pigeon  DD.43.T.139 (Australian Army Signal Corps) Date of award: February 1947 “During a heavy tropical storm this bird was released from Army Boat 1402 which had foundered on Wadou Beach in the Huon Gulf. Homing 40 miles to Madang it brought a message which enabled a rescue ship to be sent in time to salvage the craft and its valuable cargo of stores and ammunition.†Pigeon  DD.43.Q.879 (Australian Army Signal Corps) Date of award: February 1947 “During an attack by Japanese on a US Marine patrol on Manus Island, pigeons were released to warn headquarters of an impending enemy counter-attack. Two were shot down but DD43 despite heavy fire directed at it reached HQ with the result that enemy concentrations were bombed and the patrol extricated.†Cologne Pigeon  NURP39.NPS.144 Date of Award: unknown “For homing from a crashed aircraft over Cologne although seriously wounded, while serving with the RAF in 1943.â€
nogin Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 SEE HOMER49 FOR PHOTO AND INFO OF [ WHITE VISION ] I THINK IT WAS HIS WIFE'S FATHER THAT BRED IT.
Guest bakes Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 abit more info for ya Pigeons in Military History By 1914 when the war to end all wars (WWI) broke out the European armies were widely using homing pigeons in their war communications. United States General John Pershing saw the birds in use and ordered the Army Signal Corp to begin putting together their own pigeon communication system. It is believed that over half a million birds were used by the warring armies as reliable communication. These special birds had a 95 percent success rate in WWI delivering their messages and proved to be a lifeline for the troops on the front line. Remember this war was before modern radio and the telegraph was the other more-modern option for communicating. But this wire based system was easily cut in two or tapped into by enemy forces if given the chance. Others used the homing pigeon like aircraft pilots on recon missions, sailors off the coast, and even tanks on the move. WWI was the height of homing pigeon used for military purposes. There were many pigeon heroes and several of these war birds received medals. One of the most famous WWI pigeon stories to be told is that of the â€lost battalion†in France that was saved by a pigeon named Cher Ami. This 600 man battalion was being shelled and wounded by friendly fire because they advanced too far into enemy territory. Their only hope of communication was by bird and Cher Ami gave it his all. The German soldiers saw the bird take flight and began firing upon the bird wounding it but not enough to take away its will to fly the 25 miles back to the command post. It arrived with one eye shot out, a bullet in its breast and most of the leg missing that had the message capsule still attached – hanging on only by a tendon. The message stopped the shelling and the battalion was later saved. After healing, Cher Ami went on to receive an honorary service cross and taken back to America and lived until 1919. Later he was mounted and then placed on display in the Smithsonian Institute. When WWII broke out in the early 40’s the homing pigeon was brought back into service on both sides of the war. Many people do not realize that the head of the SS, Hemlic Hemmler, was also head of the national pigeon organization at one time and felt that the Nazis would benefit by taking over the national pigeon organization and the use of its members and birds. The Germans had 50,000 birds ready for use when the war had broken out. Unfortunately for America, the US Army Signal Corp did not maintain its pigeon program and to rebuild it from scratch. The Corp solicited birds from fanciers that were willing to donate them, and looked for new draftees that had a poultry or pigeon background to work as pigeoneers. Although the radio was developed at this time to carry voice, whereas Morse code was used in WWI, the homing pigeon was sometimes an excellent choice for communicating while maintaining radio silence. As one might expect radio direction finders were used by both sides to locate and try taking out each other’s forces. The homing pigeon was also found to be a capable airborne means flying a camera over enemy locations to learn more about troop strength and location. A camera was mounted underneath the pigeon behind enemy lines and allowed to fly home where the camera was examined. These photos might show actual troops and equipment or if flying over a German town might show certain type factories or other military targets for bombing. Spies on both sides used pigeons to carry information and sometimes the birds were asked to fly the English Channel between Great Britain and France. The English and the Germans developed their own falcon program to intercept birds but they were just as likely to intercept one of their birds and stop the intended communication from ever arriving. WWII came to an end and in 1956 the US Army shut down the Pigeon Corp. The service of the homing pigeon went dormant until the 1970’s when the US Coast Guard started using them again but in a different way. During the 1940’s pigeons in a Tufts University lab had proven the exceptional ability to pick out certain shapes and colors in exchange for food. The US Coast Guard decided the same abilities could be useful while searching for men and equipment in open waters so they set up some testing using a small observation bubble on the bottom of some their helicopters stationed near San Francisco. This project called Project Sea Hunt used three pigeons that faced 120 degrees from each other so that they covered the entire 360 degrees under the helicopter. The pigeons were 92 percent reliable in finding the test subjects or objects where humans were found to be in the 30-40 percent range. The project never got out of the testing phase and was ended in 1983 due to federal budget cuts so the birds did not get a chance to actually save any lives. (Excerpts taken from the History Channels production called Animals in Action, and Jerome Pratt’s book titled Courageous Couriers.) A complete list of pigeons awarded "THE DICKEN MEDAL" NEHU.40.NS.1 - Blue Cheq. Hen "Winkie" MEPS.43.1263 - Red Cheq. Cock "George" SURP.41.L.3089 - White Hen "White Vision" NPS.41.NS.4230 - "Beachbomber" NPS.42.31066 - Grizzle Cock "Gustav" NPS.43.94451 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Paddy" NURP.36.JH.190 - Dark Cheq. Hen "Kenley Lass" NURP.38.EGU.242 - Red Cheq. Cock "Commando" NPS.42.NS.44802 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Flying Dutchman" NURP.40.GVIS.453- Blue Cock "Royal Blue" NURP.41.A.2164 - "Dutch Coast" NPS.41.NS.2862 - Blue Cock "Navy Blue" NPS.42.NS.15125 - Mealy Cock "William of Orange" NPS.43.29018 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Ruhr Express" NPS.42.21610 - B.C. Hen "Scotch Lass" NU.41.HQ.4373 - Blue Cock "Billy" NURP.39.NRS.144 - Red Cock "Cologne" NPS.42.36392 - "Maquis" NPS.42.NS.7542 - 41.BA.2793 - "Broad Arrow" NURP.39.SDS.39 - "All Alone" NURP.37.CEN.335 - "Mercury" NURP.38.BPC.6 - DD.43.T.139 - DDD.43.Q.879 - NURP.41.SBC.219 - Cock "Duke of Normandy" NURP.43.CC.2418 - B.C. Hen NURP.40.WLE.249 - "Mary" NURP.41.DHZ.56 - "Tommy" 42.WD.593 - "Princess" USA.43.SC.6390 - "G.I. Joe"
Guest Silverwings Posted September 29, 2009 Report Posted September 29, 2009 thanks for all the info lads, the design people down the college need a few photos of racing pigeons and pigeons in flight they can download and use for the advertisement poster if anyone can help ? will sort out an email to send them to tomorrow ...........ray
PIGEONJIMI Posted September 30, 2009 Report Posted September 30, 2009 Found this http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iwmcollections.org.uk%2FqryMain.php&TN=Uncat&SN=AUTO2278&SE=8928&RN=7&MR=25&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=1&XP=&RF=allResults&EF=&DF=allDetails&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=1&ID=&MF=WPENGMSG.INI&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=156206&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&BG=0&FG=0&QS=
REDROCKET Posted September 30, 2009 Report Posted September 30, 2009 SEE HOMER49 FOR PHOTO AND INFO OF [ WHITE VISION ] I THINK IT WAS HIS WIFE'S FATHER THAT BRED IT. thought you were going to say homer bread it lol
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