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| General Forum for general World War 2 talk. Anything about WW2 that doesn't fit in any other category |
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04-12-2007, 01:15 PM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Discharged  Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Perth
Posts: 288
 | Using pigeons in WW2 When does a bird need a parachute? It may sound like a joke, but there is a serious answer: when it needs to be dropped behind enemy lines. During World War II, a factory in Monmouth made parachutes for pigeons to enable them to be dropped into France Up to 16,000 pigeons were dropped into France by this method, but only just over 1,800 made it back to Britain, as a lot could have perished unfound in their containers. "They were dropped in the hope that people who found them would return them with information. It was a brilliantly simple idea." Many may not have been found, but some could have fallen victim to a counter-attack strategy by the Nazis - a "squadron" of falcons posted at the French coasts to catch any pigeons winging their way across the English Channel. A special section was even set up at Military Intelligence called MI14 to organise the use of pigeons to help win the war. BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | Wartime pigeon parachute on show |
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04-12-2007, 04:47 PM
| #2 (permalink) |
| Legendary Member   Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Windsor UK
Posts: 5,010
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__________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by |
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05-12-2007, 10:31 PM
| #3 (permalink) |
| Member  Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: tuncurry,nsw.
Posts: 43
| Wasnt that a great show on aunty the other night?I had no idea pigeons played so vital a role in Market Garden and other operations,you learn something new every day!These birds were portrayed as heroes,which I suppose they were.Though I dont believe a pigeon to be a sentient enough creature to understand the concept of bravery and duty;pigeon pie is absolutely off my menu forever! |
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06-01-2008, 07:40 AM
| #4 (permalink) |
| Senior Member   Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: East Bay, CA, USA
Posts: 124
| Pigeons also played a part in deception operations, particularly Operation Periwig - the joint SIS/SOE/PWE plan to fake anti-Nazi resistance in Germany. "Stale" birds were dropped in Germany with fake messages attached to their legs. Others were dropped with a questionnaire asking for friendly Germans to supply intelligence to Allies. One pigeon made it back with a message attached, saying thanks for the other two pigeons they were very tasty, please send more! |
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06-01-2008, 09:49 AM
| #5 (permalink) | |
| In the Glasshouse   Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 815
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