MOBILE LOFTS

[ACE LOFTS]

IS THERE ANY 1 OUT THERE WHO COULD TELL US ABOUT MOBILE LOFTS AND HOW THEY WHERE USED, IN THE WAR DAYS

[PIGEON_MAN]

I WOULD THINK THAT THE LOFT WAS BASICALLY BUILT ONTO THE BACK OF A TRUCK AND THE SOLDIER,S WOULD DRIVE THIS ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES.THE BIRDS WOULD BE FROM LOFTS BACK IN ENGLAND SO IF THEY WANTED TO GET A MESSAGE HOME FROM BEHIND ENEMY LINES THEY WOULD PUT IT ON THE BIRDS LEG AND LIBERATE IT.THERE IS A THREAD ELSEWHERE ON HERE WRITTEN BY JIMMY WHITE TELLING THE STORY OF THE MANY BIRDS THAT MADE THEIR WAY BACK HOME AND SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES BY DELIVERING IMPORTANT MESSAGES.

[PIGEON_MAN]

IT,S UNDER THE GREAT MESSENGERS OF WAR,SOME BRILLIANT READING.

[Peckedhen]

I read somewhere (and I can't find it again now) that they used copper wire on top of the lofts and this somehow helped the birds to home when the loft was constantly on the move.  

[Guest TAMMY_1]

IS THERE ANY 1 OUT THERE WHO COULD TELL US ABOUT MOBILE LOFTS AND HOW THEY WHERE USED, IN THE WAR DAYS

 

THINK I MAY HAVE A BOOK WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN WILL TRY AND SEE IF I STILL HAVE IT

[Tony C]

Ace, I can P/M you with the name & address of an old hand that lives local to me. He served in the pigeon corps during WW2 and I'm confident he will tell you what you wish to know. I can tell you some of the things they used to do with the pigeons e.g. feeding pigeons in one mobile loft then they would fly back to another mobile loft for water then they would fly back to the other loft. Things like this were done on the move, no stationary lofts, forever on the move.

[ACE LOFTS]

thanks lads im realy greatfull with your help, me and my uncle were talking about it the other day.

 

quit similer to what u were saying tony.

[rockinrick]

has anyone got a pic or photo they can share on here of a war loft , its always been a interest for me since i looked into my uncles death at normandy , ( he kept birds back here in uk ) .

 

cheers rockinrick   :)

[Guest Paulo]

brave birds, humans have a choice to go to war, birds don't saved a lot of peoples lives especially the one's like commando that were taken behind enemy lines and used to carry back vital information. Had to run the gaunlet of germans trying to shoot them down or use hawks to try and catch them as well as horrific weather conditions. Brings a lump to your throat.

 

Obslete now in these days of burst transmission sat radios but in those days radios were unreliable especially in adverse weather conditions but you knew if you chucked three pigeons with a message there was a good chance that the message would make it through. The pigeon Fanciers in the national pigeon service must have scarifcied their very very best for the war effort as well when you look at the crappy weather conditions these birds performed in. People go on about their strains of birds these days but I bet these plucky birds would give them a run for their money in racing.

 

Dark days for England in the second world war people forget how unstoppable the german war machine was they tried to take on the whole world and could have won. Luckily fate and very brave men, women and animals was against them and they were beaten.

 

In a way pigeons helped achived this and people should remember that when they call them flying rats and start whinging on about them. They have played an important role in world history the military have used them since Julius Casaer used them to carry back news of his victorys, and the likes of reuters and the stock exchange used them to carry important information.

[Guest]

I read somewhere that the pigeons flying from Mobile Lofts, especially in the Northn African Desert, were trained to home to  an insignia (say a red star or something similar)painted on the roof of the loft, these lofts were moved up to 25 miles a day

[Tony C]

Ace, I can P/M you with the name & address of an old hand that lives local to me. He served in the pigeon corps during WW2 and I'm confident he will tell you what you wish to know.

 

 

The gentleman that I refer to, Len Perry can be seen in this weeks Homing World page 36 and glad to say is in good health.

[jimmy white]

some time ago , the fifer arranged a room in local com centre with all the old war birds articles , i gave him a n,p,s, ring [national pigeon service] photos and info of mobile lofts , even had "winkie "there stuffed off course, the first bird to win the dicken medal for bravery , the most interesting couple of hours ive spent in a while , even the curater of the hall was getting interested in the pigeons, all thanks to the fifer

[jimmy white]

have just dug out an old gazzete, with photo of army loft,[not mobile one] it says at the side of photo,,,,loft at h.q. kenya, east africa, with l.a.c. hawes of great yarmouth norfolk [ in army uniform]   wonder if anyone has any info on L.A.C. HAWES. , WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING

[Guest TAMMY_1]

I read somewhere that the pigeons flying from Mobile Lofts, especially in the Northn African Desert, were trained to home to  an insignia (say a red star or something similar)painted on the roof of the loft, these lofts were moved up to 25 miles a day

 

WELL IF THE STAR CAME FROM THIS SITE THE BIRDS WOULD BE LOST WHEN IT'S STAR WAS TAKEN AWAY

[Guest ben]

Hi ACE,

             You don`t need a mobile loft,or put bullseyes,stars,or numbers on the roof,to bomerang racers,we sucessfully tried it from highridge common,and opposite the main A38 out of bristol,beminster down green,to our lofts at knowle,only trouble,even useing massive horse beans,to many woodies used to take them,making it expensive.

   Easiest way is to teach them to trap to a basket,and don`t belive the crap they say about you need bob wires,and painted colours,cause it don`t matter,they  don`t even need to learn from being babies,any aged will work,with patience,just keep them tight,,feed outside the loft to a basket,let them drink back in the loft,then after a few days,go across the field opposite open the basket,they will fly around,and as long as they are hungry,will trap into the top flap of it,and if your that way inclined,especialy if you were in a  sprint racing area.,like here which used to be many short mostly weymouth,portland 50-60 miles,races wednesdays,sundays,a few saturdays,you only  would need to   take the basket stone easton,on top the hill,and release,feed for a couple of days,your 15 minutes better on the clock race day.

    If your intrested,steve spinks did a writup on that great club and national racer bill mather outlining bomerang for fitness purposes on his Boglin Marsh website,buts withholds some sections,which in dodgy hands certainly will give you license to clock chosen birds 10-15 miles,short or 15-20 minutes on the clock.

    It makes you wonder if anyone has tried it in a racing format. : ;D ;D ;D

[johnny11]

To back Ben up. i would suggest anyone read the "Boomerang Method" it is very interesting indeed

 

John