At the IWM this described as: The Operation Tonga 5-7th June 1944 Paratroopers of the British 6th Airborne Division placing a carrier pigeon in a container in preparation for a airborne landing for planned Operation Overlord, 5 June 1944. Pigeons were taken by the troops for sending back messages of the progress of operations. Photograph probably taken at RAF Tarrant Rushton. This index card is with it
This photo taken by the same photographer on the same day is listed as: Paratroops of 22 Independent Parachute Company, British 6th Airborne Division, with their toy mascot 'Pegasus' at RAF Harwell, 5 June 1944. Its index card is the H39057 refered to in the above post
Ben, I believe there were three photos in that series probably taken around the same time at RAF Harwell by Capt. Malindine, AFPU - H39057 (Major Lough), H39058 (pidgeon) and H39059 (mascot compare). H39057 below shows Major Ted Lough of 5th Brigade HQ holding the Pegasus mascot. Major Guy Radmore the Brigade Signals Officer is seen on extreme right. The 5th Bde HQ's transit camp was at Harwell but they were loaded onto trucks and taken to RAF Fairford and left from there. There were also gliders carrying 5th Bde men that flew out RAF Brize Norton on Op Tonga. As for the other two photos you posted I'm of the opinion they are 5th Brigade men as well but you will come across other views like those posted by travers1940 above based on IWM information. Regards ...
The man holding the pigeon container ( on the right ) is my father Corp Thomas Alfred Smith. He was RCof S attached to 12th Battalion Para Reg He told me about the filming when i was a child It bit his finger There is also a pathe video called "landing craft and gliders" shows the same thing