Pigeons

My feeling is that the message is quite early because of the age of the pigeons. One born in 1940 but the other in 1937. Something I've just read says that carrier pigeons were in their prime between 2- to 5-years-old and as they got older were used for breeding. Younger birds under 2 could be used for shorter trips below 100 miles.

Also, if it is Typex it would be before the rotor settings were disguised at the start of the message and with a check number at the end. I haven't discovered when the disguised settings were first used though.

So a timeframe of between 1940 to 1942 seems more likely. The message could also have been sent inside the UK rather than coming from the Continent.

I don't think the X relates to the German/Austrian section of SOE as they ran few agents and they were Germans and Austrians rather than British Army. Samples of the message pads used in Operation Periwig are here: http://www.psywar.org/periwig.php

Also the red capsule indicates an Army message rather than Special Operations unless the cardboard disk insert has been lost in the chimney.

What I learnt today about the Tunisian campaign pigeon usage shows that quite high level messages were also sent by pigeons, making Typex more possible I guess. But that might partly be wishful thinking on my part.

So how to knock up a Typex Bombe?

 

A part transcription of World War 2 British Defence Regulations regarding the discovery of carrier pigeons and what to do with any messages they may be carrying. A pigeon carrying a red capsule indicated it to be an Army message, Blue an RAF message, Black a police message and yellow for commercial civilian messages. Special Operations / Secret Service message capsules were either green, grey, or red but with coloured disks.

Disposal of Stray, Injured or Dead Homing Pigeons
(DEFENCE REGULATION 9, para. 4).
The following information and general instructions are issued by the National Pigeon Service ComXmittee under Air Ministry authority S.71143/Te1s.l.c, dated 21st February, 1944, for guidance of all concerned.
PART 1. Relates to Pigeons found with messages or message carriers, and other birds of immediate interest to the Services.
PART 2. Relates to Pigeons not carrying messages or message carriers, and which are identifiable as of British origin.

PART 1.
Action to be taken with Pigeons of immediate interest to the Services.
1. TYPES OF MESSAGE CARRIERS USED BY THE ALLIED FORCES:—
Allied pigeon messages are carried in message carriers of the following types:—
(i) Bakelite cylinder, with screw cap, attached to a slot in a bakelite and spring clip ring on pigeon's leg.
(ii) Bakelite cylinder opening in two halves by screw thread, and attached to pigeon's leg by webbing band and press-stud,
(iii) Waterproof paper cylinder, attached as in type (ii).
(iv) Tubular plastic capsule. The upper half (transparent) screws into lower half (coloured) and is attached as in type (ii).

2. DISPOSAL OF ALLIED PIGEON MESSAGES:—
Messages found on stray, injured or dead pigeons bearing message carriers of the types indicated in paragraph 1 above are to be dealt with according to the colour indications of the carrier, as follows:—
(a) Allied type Message Carriers coloured green, grey, or red with coloured disc:— [Special Operations / Secret Services]
(i) If found in England or Wales, the message carrier is to be sent unopened under sealed cover, by the most rapid means available to Special Section, Army Pigeon Service, Wing House Piccadilly, London, W.l. The despatch is to be notified by telephone to Regent 8131, Extension 60, giving the Ring number of the pigeon and the time and method of despatch of the carrier.
(ii) If found in Northern Ireland or in Scotland, carriers of these colours are to be sent, and their despatch advised to, the Chief Signals Officer, British Troops in Northern Ireland, and the C.S.O., Scottish Command respectively, at the undermentioned addresses:—
C.S.O., Headquarters, British Troops in Northern Ireland, Belfast.
(Tel. No. Belfast 27961, Extension 28).
C.S.O., Headquarters, Scottish Command, Edinburgh. (Tel. No. Edinburgh 32836).
(b) Allied type Message Carriers coloured plain red:— [Army]
The message is to be extracted and:—
(i) If the message is overprinted with the instruction "Telephone War Office Signal Office, Whitehall 9400," this instruction is to be complied with immediately.
(ii) If the message does not bear this overprint it is to 'be delivered to the nearest Army Signal Centre for disposal.
(c) Allied type Message Carriers coloured blue, blue with coloured disc in cap or blue painted white:— [RAF]
Report the message and full details of metal ring particulars of the pigeon immediately to Air Ministry, Tels. 1. (c), Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. (Telephone Holborn 3434, Extension 1254) by day; and to the Air Ministry Duty Staff Signals Officer (Telephone No. Abbey 3411) by night; or in accordance with the instructions in plain language on the mesXsage itself. Messages prefixed by the words "Practice" or "Test" are not urgent and are to be dealt with by post.
(d) Allied type Message Carriers coloured black or yellow:—
Hand the message and carrier to the nearest police station for disposal. (Black are Police Message Carriers, and yellow are authorised Commercial). Report full particulars of the metal ring and wing stamp of pigeon to Air Ministry, Tels. 1 (c.) as above.

3. SUSPECT MESSAGES AND PIGEONS:—
(a) Stray, injured or dead pigeons bearing message carriers of any other type, or message, or marks suspected to be messages, are to be reported immediately to Air Ministry, Tels. 1 (c), Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C2. (Telephone No. Holborn 3434, Extension 1254) by day; and to the Air Ministry Duty Staff Signals Officer (Telephone No. Abbey 3411) by night.
(b) Stray, injured or dead pigeons bearing ring or wing stamps appearing to indicate origin in enemy or enemy-occupied countries will be detailed and reported to Air Ministry, Tels. 1. (c), as above.
…
[]Arcre - Defence Regulations concerning found carrier pigeons

 

It'll be interesting to hear what it says about the double encryption.

Of course, this message was a second copy sent and there's nothing to say the first one didn't get to its destination.

If it did, it is quite possible that an already decrypted version is sitting around in the archives waiting to be discovered.

I've got a couple of theories of when and where the message originated from and will chase them up tomorrow at Kew if I get a chance.

Edit: Video now working. Expert says that he thinks it is a one-time pad which then enciphered (Typex?).

 

No point enciphering a One Time Pad again, as it is the only theoretically unbreakable cipher. I think what he was saying was the message was converted to a code (for compression perhaps?) and then enciphered by a OTP.
I suspect it is either OTP, or a double transposition that includes an additive key, so the original letters do not appear in the message. A simple double transposition simply scrambles up the letters into a different order.

 

An MI5 report on the use made of carrier pigeons by both the British and German intelligence services in World War II.THE USE OF PIGEONS IN THIS WAR


We have, during this war, made a fairly complete study of the use of pigeons by the G.I.S. [German Intelligence Services] this study gives a good picture of the various ways pigeons were used and, with the General clear-up of P.O.W.s and agents now proceeding on the Continent, we hope to find characters whose interrogations will make it even more complete.
Briefly, the Nazi Party and the S.S. controlled all pigeon keeping in Germany before the war with a view to their use in war, and a pigeon section has been attached to most of the Abwehr units since 1939. They have been used by the G.I.S. in France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Norway, Yugoslavia, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Germany.


They used them with stay-behind agents, line-crossers, saboteurs, parachute-agents, and, in wild and semi-occupied countries like the Balkans, with outlying agents for communication to central W/T stations. Pigeons were used where W/T conditions were difficult (mountainous country) and more often for a lack of W/T sets and trained operators. They were, however, usually linked at some point with the Abwehr W/T set up. The Germans no doubt intended to use pigeons with saboteurs or invasion troops from this country and were training them for that purpose; we believe, though, that they were never used. All the above information can of course be enlarged on.


On our side, pigeons have been used offensively by S.I.S. with agents, by S.O.E. for deception purposes and with agents, and by M.I.14 who gathered a lot of useful information by dropping quantities of pigeons on parachutes over enemy-occupied zones with requests to patriots to answer questionnaires.


Defensively, this department has taken an interest in the control of pigeon-keeping in this country, their import or export from Ireland, and investigated cases of suspected illicit use of pigeons. We instigated a watch by all coastguards and Observer Corps posts on the Southern and South-eastern coasts for any pigeons seen flying out to sea. Where a number of reports from the same point seemed to point to pigeons homing to the Continent we took steps to intercept them. For this purpose we started a Falconry Unit, with two falconers and trained falcons. Whilst they never brought down an enemy bird (probably because there never were any) they did demonstrate that they could bring down any pigeons that crossed the area they were patrolling - about two miles in diameter.
Just prior to D-Day, all the fanciers living near the Southern coasts were approached and asked to assist in a scheme to decoy into their lofts any single enemy birds that might be flying from this country: they were asked to organise the times at which they let their birds out for their daily flights so that there were always some birds in the air to attract tired enemy birds to join them.


We also arranged a little plan to hinder and perhaps to obviate the use of Abwehr pigeons in Belgium and Holland by "contaminating" their lofts. We searched, and found a method of soldering an identification ring (hitherto considered impossible) on to an adult bird. (The rings are usually put on when the bird is a few days old). Copying the numbering and markings of captured enemy pigeon-rings, we had a number of exact replicas made and put them on to English pigeons; the wing-stampings were also imitated. We then released these birds - free and without parachutes - from aircraft over Belgium and Holland. Far from home and lost, they would find their way - as homing pigeons always do - to some loft, and as all lofts were enemy-controlled it would be a German loft. There they would be taken in as one of their own pigeons, and if used for message carrying would of course go astray. Sooner or later the Germans would discover they have been fooled and they then would have to call in all their pigeons to check up which were the imposters. Whilst they were doing this they would be unable to use any of their pigeon services. Meanwhile, we would be sending over further batches of "phoney" pigeons at regular intervals.


CONCLUSION
The chief fact that has emerged from the use of pigeons in this war is that for straightforward use in Signals they are largely outdated, but that they have been used a great deal by both sides for Intelligence purposes and often with considerable success.


It seems worth considering, therefore, that to avoid our being found unprepared in any future war, the departments mentioned above should put into tabloid form an account of their activities in this war and that these accounts should be kept together for future references. Also, in order that the practical experience should not be lost, and to keep abreast of any developments, it is felt that the Intelligence Services should have some loft at their disposal in peace time; at this loft experiments could be carried out, equipment kept up to date with aircraft developments, and agents in training could be shown how to handle pigeons, conceal messages on them, drop them from aircraft, and use them in exercises.
It is felt that there is no need for any permanent section to cover this, but that the loft of some reliable civilian could be earmarked and subsidised for the purpose. An expert pigeon officer with experience in the use of pigeons for intelligence work could be paid a retaining fee for his services when required. In this way a thread of continuity would be kept going.


Finally, in order that there should be sufficient pigeons to meet any sudden emergency, some department should keep an up-to-date list of pigeon fanciers who would be willing to lend or give their birds if they were called upon to do so.
[Source TNA: HS 8/854, transcribed by Arcre - Home ]

 

The following notes, contained in a Special Operations Executive file, give details on the use, advantages and disadvantages of carrier pigeons for agent communications.
MOA/XX/23.
MOST SECRET

CARRIER PIGEONS
19.11.41.


1. GENERAL
In all operations the great difficulty is usually inter-
communication. A solution is to have as many and as varied
means of communication as possible. Pigeons form an efficient
additional means and one that has not been fully tried or
appreciated.


2. ADVANTAGES
(a) Direct contact with agent.
(b) Long messages may be sent with no chance of distortion,
as is sometimes the case with W/T messages.
(c) Diagrams and sketches can be sent.
(d) Quick and simple forms of acknowledgement.
(e) Once liberated the agent has no fear of detection and
has nothing to connect him with the bird or message,
if it is captured or his is searched.


3. DISADVANTAGES
(a) Only one way.
(b) Possibility of message falling into enemy hands.
(c) Bird through some mischance may never get through.
(d) Birds cannot be kept for longer than about 10 days.


4. MESSAGE WRITING
(a) Agents should be instructed in writing on the special
paper. A fine pen and a magnifying glass are very
useful, and by their aid long messages can be written
on the small sheet.
(b) A supply of paper will be given to Sections if they will
ask for it.


5. CODES
(a) Written codes and Originators Prefix
The code to be used and the prefix of the user must be
decided upon beforehand by Country Sections in consultation
with Codes Section.
(b) Without writing a message
Simple codes can be worked out by means of rings and the
position of the message container.
Further details and advice can be given on this point
if required.


6. CARE AND CAPABILITIES OF PIGEONS
Instructions regarding the capabilities of pigeons and
their care are given in Appendix A attached.


7. INSTRUCTION IN HANDLING PIGEONS
To make certain that a bird has every chance of returning,
it is of value if agents receive instruction from an expert
in the correct way of holding, fixing message and liberating.
This instruction will only take about half an hour and the
date and time will be arranged to suit Country Sections.
The best day is that on which the final conference is held.
MO/B will make the arrangements with the C.S.O. and the
Country Sections for this instruction.


8. METHOD OF CARRIAGE
(a) Containers
(i) Single, holding one bird and carried on or by the man.
(ii) Group of Six. This is one package made up of six
single containers, each holding one bird. It
is dropped by parachute and can be quickly
divided into its six separate containers on
landing.
Samples can be seen on request.
(b) On the man:
(i) While jumping two birds can be carried in a ruck-
sack but there is always the danger of the man
falling back and crushing them. One can be
carried in a single container strapped to the
stomach; trials are being carried out to see
if two can be carried in this manner.
(ii) When on the ground, birds if necessary can be
hidden in rucksacks and suitcases, the birds
being in a container. It is also possible to
carry a bird wrapped in paper in a pocket. In
every case the bird must have plenty of air.


9. METHOD OF DELIVERY
(a) Pigeon service notify MO/D that bird has arrived in loft.
They will quote code letter of section using the bird.
(b) MO/D will warn CODES, Baker Street that message is on its way.
(c) Pigeon Service will then deliver the message direct to
"DOVES" Room 055A, The War Office, together with
description of bird (rings and their position). 055A
will deliver it to 64 BAKER STREET, marked "DOVES".
(d) On receipt at 64 Baker Street, the message will be passed
direct to Codes who will:-
(i) If the message proves to be in clear pass it direct
to the Country Section concerned, Copy to MO/D.
(ii) If the message is in code inform Country Section
concerned and MO/D of receipt by telephone immediately,
sending the decoded message to the Country Section,
copy to MO/D as soon as possible.


10. METHOD OF DEMAND
(a) All demands will be made through MO.
(b) A.T.F. No. 1 and No. 3 will be used. These forms will be
amended in due course, but until they are, the following
information will be added by Country Sections:-
Pigeons
Number required ............................
Containers - Groups of six .................
" - Single ........................
Area from which operating,
if not given on the form .................
(c) For long and difficult operations early warning is
essential as special birds may have to be obtained and
trained, or even a new loft established.



APPENDIX 'A'

PIGEONS - THEIR CARE AND CAPABILITIES

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. Conditions of captivity. The best way to hide the pigeon,
pending its release, is to keep it where other animals
are kept. In a basket or a rabbit hutch it will not
attract any attention.
If it is necessary to keep the pigeons longer than
24 to 48 hours give it more space to prevent wing stiff-
ness. Put it in a shed, attic or outbuilding (beware
of cats or rats).
When you know the approximate time you are intending to
release the bird, put it back in the basket or rabbit
hutch shortly before so that you will be sure of being
able to catch it at short notice.


2. Weather conditions. Naturally, the better the conditions,
the more reliable and rapid will be the return of the bird.
(a) Favourable conditions are clear atmosphere and following wind.
(b) Unfavourable conditions
Fog. Bird loses homing instinct.
Darkness. Bird cannot see and will stop flying
Snow, Heavy Rain and Mist.
Head Winds. Tires bird and reduces speed.


3. Endurance of Pigeons
Flying time. March - May Birds will fly 8 - 10 hrs.
June - Mid. August Birds will fly 14 - 16 hrs.
Mid. August - Oct. Moult in progress and flying
time reduced to 6 - 7 hours.
Nov. - Feb. Condition of pigeon good
and time limited by hours of
daylight.


4. Time for liberation. Every endeavour should be made to permit
the bird to 'home' the day it is liberated. Best time is
early in the morning after sunrise, but if conditions are
doubtful wait for an improvement, keeping in mind the
following considerations:-
(i) Distance to be flown to reach loft.
(ii) Speed of flight (40 kms. per hour against wind.
(60 kms. per hour with wind.)
(iii) Birds flying time (See Previous Section)
(iv) Length of daylight, as birds will not fly after dark.
In assessing distance home, add 100 kms. to the distance
to the coast of England. Only liberate during hours of
darkness if no other alternative.


5. Conditions of liberation. Liberate clear of buildings, high
trees and wires.
If two birds are available, send message in duplicate and
liberate together. They fly better in company and are
more reliable. If more than one message to be sent,
number all message consecutively.


6. FEEDING
(a) Times. Feed twice a day, in morning about 9 o'clock
and again in the afternoon before sunset.
Pigeons cannot see and will not feed in the dark.
If the pigeon is nervous or refuses to
eat, leave the food in front of it until it
does, and afterwards remove food as soon as it
has fed.
(b) Quantity - One eggcupvul (sic), say 30 - 35 grammes per day
per pigeon. They must not be overfed or they
will become unwilling to leave.
(c) Pigeons in Basket or Confined Space. Feed in the basket
removing all surplus food afterwards and washing
it, as otherwise it will be fouled by excreta
and become unusable.
(d) Pigeons unconfined in Shed or Attic. Place food in
shallow receptacle such as cardboard box lid,
in a prominent position taking care always to
put it in the same place so that the bird gets
used to seeing it.
(e) Fresh Water. Should always be available and should be
placed in a saucepan or a shallow bowl. A
saucepan is better as it will not overturn.
Water must be kept clean and should be cold.
If sugar is available, a teaspoonful per cupful
of water acts as a tonic and helps to maintain
condition.
(f) Uncooked Rice. A small quantity mixed with the food
supplied will also help to maintain condition.


7. TIME PIGEONS CAN BE KEPT AWAY FROM THEIR LOFT
As a general rule, the following is a guide as to the time
they can be kept:-
(a) Pigeon in cylinder. 24 hours.
(b) Pigeon in large basket or ventilated box. 48 hours.
(c) After 48 hours they must be lierated daily in an attic or
shed so that they can exercise their wings.
(d) Pigeons confined in Shed or attic. Should not be able to
see out or they may learn their surroundings and refuse to leave.
(e) Maximum Time. If it is possible to give pigeons exercise
daily, they can be kept for seven or ten days.


[Source TNA: HS 8/854, transcribed by Arcre - Home ]

 

Army Low Grade ciphers. As this might relate to the pigeon message, some details about Army low grade ciphers.

These low grade ciphers were intended to be used by the headquarters of all units and formations, not possessing a common higher grade cipher, for tactical messages dealing with operations, movements and administrative plans likely to be effective in the near future. These messages dealing with plans or operations scheduled to take effect after more than 48 hours were not to be sent by wireless unless a medium or high grade cipher was available.

On 5th November 1943, the Army Council introduced Double Transposition as the only low grade cipher. It used a pair of number keys to transpose letters of a message. Each message would begin and end with a disguised key indicator consisting of four numerals.

Due to the complicated and error-prone nature of Double Transposition, a new low grade cipher was authorised by the Army Council on 3rd February 1945. This new cipher was called LINEX and used a grid of random alphabets to encode a message.

The LINEX key setting of four letters was placed at the start and end of a message. However, the key setting was disguised first by encipherment using a Playfair Square.

For messages that didn't need to be totally enciphered other systems like Map Reference and Slidex could be used from time to time.

There was also another code introduced in 17th June 1944 specifically for reporting states and returns, e.g., tank, workshop, and bed states and ammunition, POL, and supply returns.

The pigeon message uses a five letter key indicator at the start and end of the message. One system that used a five letter indicator was the high level Typex cipher machine, although at some point in 1944, I believe, a disguised indicator of 5 numerals was used instead.

Give me a few days and I'll type up descriptions on how to use Double Transposition, LINEX and some Typex procedures.

Lee

 

The more you dig, the more it looks like Typex! I've never met LINEX, so would be interested (sounds like an 'open source' cipher )

There were several different Double Transpositions in use. Delastelle probably the most secure, but all tedious to use.

 

Trying to narrow it down Geoff. Actually I'm more interested in proving the coding technique than knowing what the message actually says! I'm also convinced it dates from the mid-war period, mostly likely 1942 rather than 1944 or 1940.

I'll email you the specs on LINEX as it'll take me awhile to transcribe it, escpecially the reconstruction of the code tables.

MI14 Pigeon Service messages to follow shortly...

 

MESSAGES RECEIVED THROUGH MI14'S CARRIER PIGEON SERVICE FROM OCCUPIED EUROPE

MI14 (later MI4) was the branch of British military intelligence responsible for dropping carrier pigeons over occupied Europe. The carrier pigeons were dropped with a questionnaire asking patriots for information regarding the disposition of German troops and military installations. The Pigeon Service began operating in mid-1941 and initially requested information regarding German preparations for the invasion of Britain. The questionnaire also enquired about what troops were in the area and the type of insignia they wore; addresses used by German headquarters and officials; what coastal defences and patrols were in operation; how was the morale of German soldiers; and also whether BBC radio broadcasts were clearly audible or not.


During the summer months around 20% to 25% of the despatched pigeons successfully made it back to England with messages from Europe, dropping to 10% to 15% in the winter. These messages were often very detailed and sometimes included sketch maps. Although the quality of intelligence could be rather good there was the inherent risk of deception by German counter intelligence. Indeed the Germans offered rewards to the civilian population for handing in enemy carrier pigeons. Alternatively being found in possession of one meant certain death. During the three years the M.I.14 Pigeon Service operated around 950 different messages were received from the continent.


A few examples of returned messages are reproduced below.Message No. 23
Sent from Cambridge on 5.7.1941
Returned to Ipswich on 7.7.1941
With following message in Flemish from Meulebeke dated 7.7.1941
Transmitted to M.I.14, D.N.I. & R.A.F. at 1400 hours on 8.7.1941
Meulebeke 7th July 1941.
Dear Friends,
With this I inform you that on the railway Thielt to Meulebeke and to Inglemunster there are groups of trucks laden with munitions. The bombardment of Comines (Komen) has been good on March 2nd (Note: or might also mean the second time)
There are here hardly any soldiers but round about Bruges there are many. At Pittem they are repairing the chateau for important people from Germany. There is some movement on the road from Bruges to Countrai of motor cars with officers and on the aerodrome of Wevelghem there are many airmen.
2.
I found this pigeon on the 6th early in the morning while I was cutting clover for the animals and I have looked after it well and given it food and drink and am now anxious to know if the little animal will reach its loft.
And now I must finish. The soldiers become dissatisfied for their food has become much worse and they are covered in lice.
3.
Hoping that I have possibly rendered you some service, and if possible I am always ready and sign myself,
Jules V.
Meulebeke St.Ath.


Message No. 28
Pigeon No. 322 sent from Cambridge on 5.7.1941
Returned to Barnstaple on 8.7.1941
With following message in French from Mesley dated 6.7.1941
Transmitted to M.I.14, D.N.I. & R.A.F. at 1800 hours on 8.7.1941


This pigeon was found at Mesley (Calvados) on the 5th July 1941 by F.L.No.222.


There are no troops here at the Callouet aviation field at the moment but there are dummy aeroplanes made of wood on the ground. There are no troop exercises.


The Societe M.N. (? Mineraux Nationales) despatched 4 mineral trains per day.


Between Lassy and St. Jean Leblanc there is an aeroplane beacon.


The moral of the troops here is very bad.


The departures which take place are towards the Eastern front.


We hear the B.B.C. very well on 373 metres and we always listen at 9.15 hours (occupied France time).

(Sgd) Group of true Frenchmen who wish for your victory which will also be ours.


Vive la France! Vive l'Angleterre.
(Sd) F.D.A.C.N.




Message No. 32
Pigeon No. 145 sent from Cambridge on 5.7.1941
Returned to Ipswich on 9.7.1941
With following message in Flemish from Flanders
Transmitted to W.O. at 1100 hours on 10.7.1941

There is no news from this District of any importance which I can give you so we are sending you back the pigeon as it as least can be of use to you.


Our one wish is that you come to free us.

No signature. The following message was probably the most detailed and important pigeon message received. It contained nine sheets of tiny writing and sketch maps with detailed instructions on potential targets in Belgium. Attempts were made to re-establish contact with the sender but these appear to have been fruitless. Naval Intelligence noted that the intelligence given collaborated and expanded on information received from CX reports - the decrypts of German Enigma signals traffic.Message No. 37
Pigeon No. 1 sent from Cambridge on 5.7.1941
Returned to Ipswich on (15.30hrs) 12.7.1941
With following message in French & English from Belgium dated (0815 hrs) 12.7.1941
Transmitted to M.I.14, D.N.I. & R.A.F. on 14.7.1941

IMPORTANT
This message is from Leopold Vindictive 200. Please tell us if you get it in your normal news transmission, - in Dutch twice and in Radio Belquige twice, with the hour of arrival and as soon as you get it. Please say what was unknown to you, only giving the letters of the maps (A.B.C.etc) with "were unknown" or more about "........ is asked for". This information is thoroughly reliable and here is our guarantee or warranty: We are a staff of 3 principals and Several (? Seven) secondary agents but identify me as follows:- I am the bearded Military Chaplain who shook hands with Admiral Keyes on the morning of May 27th 1940 at about 7.30. Ask the Admiral please where he was exactly at that moment with my most respectful greetings. Our greatest hope is to get again birds so as to inform you further. This one was found on the morning of Sunday 6th July. We heard of 8 or 10 others which were found by others and brought to the Authorities and so to the enemy, not because people dislike England but because they fear Germany. I must use every precaution lest this message should be captured by the enemy so I devised the following means to enable you to send us new birds so that they may reach us unknown to others. First determine the exact spot where you must drop them as follows:- take the military map of Belgium 1/40,000, the sheet with the place where Admiral Keyes met me that morning. From that point put a ruler South-Eastward in the axis of the main road; at the extreme east the ruler meets an "E"; the letter of a village name written in the margin. The second letter of that name is the central point of an area (filled with crops) of 300 yards square (300 X 300) where the birds must reach earth. The flyer must come from the West and point straight eastward. By so flying the area is easy to recognise or to identify as there are no trees and as the area is a part of a valley which seems typical. Drop three birds only at the first sunrise (i.e. early dawn) on July 15th, 16th or 17th next which means one of those three mornings. If weather or other circumstances make this impossible try in the same way on July 30th or 31st or August 1st. Avoid long cruising as this always makes people of the neighbourhood rise out of their beds and come out. Remember that also other people possibly may capture the birds. We will do our best but failure is not impossible. We suppose also that you know that such relations are rewarded by death by the enemy so we must act with great circumspection. Never drop birds on Sunday morning or Saturday night as these are the worst times of the week, people are flocking to Church early on Sunday mornings so that it it is impossible to hide the birds.


To read this easily put it on a black or dark sheet of paper and use a magnifying glass, first cutting apart again the different parts and then reassembling them in the right way.


Belgium and England for ever.


God save the King - and us with him!
[The above part of the message was written in English. Then followed detailed intelligence reports with sketch maps and suggestions for aerial attacks].
Message No. 39
Pigeon No. 445 sent from Cambridge on 9.7.1941
Returned to Barnstaple on 12.7.1941
With following message in French from Calvados dated 11.7.1941
Transmitted to M.I.14, D.M.I. & R.A.F. on 14.7.1941

We found your pigeon on the 10th July near CHEURES(?) and sent it off again early on the 11th as we were unable to keep it longer owing to there being Germans in the Commune. They have already destroyed one pigeon found by a woman who gave it up to them.


The only information we can give you is that there is a munitions depot in the forest of St Ohdre near La Huquette.


The Germans hope still to invade England and their moral is till very good.


For 8 days past trains have been passing full of men, lorries and M.Gs. These trains are of 25 to 30 wagons each.


No other news to give you except to beg you to make an end to this as soon as you can before we die of hunger.


We live in the hope, like many other Frenchmen, that Victory is near.



Come, dear comrades of yesterday!

No signature


Message No. 48
Pigeon No. 221 sent from Cambridge on 5.7.1941
Returned to Ipswich on 14.7.1941
With following message in French from Flanders dated 14.7.1941
Transmitted to M.I.14 etc. on 17.7.1941

Have delayed letting pigeon go for reason of storm.


Be careful: at Deurle apparent (= not real) aerodrome.


Brussels Hale Centenary Exhibition 1930 full of lorries and German material - very important.
H.V.W.1899.


Ask my sister living at 1/A Queensgate London S.W.7. who I am and where I am living. Here what there was before the War full of what there was before, soldiers and traitors work at it. In nearby villages and towns no soldiers - at Nieuport and coast hard work at shelters and coastal defence, few soldiers - at Vlaemertinghe important aerodrome just now a few planes. In 15 days there will be many - Same thing at Wevelghem - On the road from Wevelghem to Courtrai, on the right coming from Courtrai, is an airfield. Before coming to the village of Wevelghem is a fake aerodrome lighted at night with red light. If message received acknowledge on French emission of 1.p.m. Here we are Flemish but Belgian - All here all ready to help except some few traitors.
H.V.W.1899.




Message No. 50
Pigeon No. 163 sent from Cambridge on 9.7.1941
Returned to Sandwich on 14.7.1941
With following message in French from Normandy or Brittany dated 13.7.1941
Transmitted to M.I.14 etc.


This Weston Super Mare bird strayed and was caught by Sandwich Police.


Message forwarded to Sigs via Air Ministry Pigeon Officer.


Impossible to give any troop identifications.


We listen to all B.B.C. news and talks as do 95% of the people. The

emissions on 49 metres and 41 metres are very much disturbed. Everything interests us but speak clearly and loud. We hear especially well "Jean (?Marien) in spite of the disturbances.


(a) There are no important concentrations of troops and no embarkation practices.


(b) Small detachments of artillery but of not much importance.


(c) The moral of the troops is very bad; they refuse to sing on returning from exercises and refuse to do manoeuvres, - there only been one during the last 3 days.


(d) No troop movements by rail.


(e) Nothing to report concerning aviation.


Message No. 193
Returned to DALTON, Lancs. on 23/8/1942
With following message in DUTCH from HOLLAND dated 9/8/1942
Transmitted to M.I.14., A.I.1(c), N.I.D.1. at 1600 hours on 25/8/1942

The attached message came on an English racing pigeon which got blown across to Holland in July. It was found, tended and again released on 9th August and arrived back to its own loft in England on 23rd August.


No. 193
TRANSCRIPT


Hello friends in England, somewhere in Holland Aug. 9th '42. This pigeon was brought to two Dutch patriots on July 21st, we recognised it was a British pigeon and we called it "Tommy". The poor animal was entirely exhausted but of course great care was taken with it and within a few weeks Tommy was in good condition to cross the North Sea, something to which the Germans are not capable; Many friends in our neighbourhood send their greetings to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and to Mr. Winston Churchill, tell our Queen that the opposition in our country is at the most highest grade, it has ever been, owing to the latest German measures against the hostages and the Jews. All the people in occupied Europe long for the day when the Allied Forces will come to the Continent to free them from the hated German tyranny and we assure you that when they come, as many soldiers will rise in Holland as guns are brought to us, to join the Allied Forces.


No we send you some military information: near the village of Sondell in Gaasterland in the province of Friesland, there is an enormous installation to hear the approaching British aircrafts. This apparatus has a diameter of about 10 metres, it is said that at night the British machines can be heard already when they cross the Dutch coastline. With enormous cables this post is communicated with the aerodrome in Leeurwaron and probably too with aerodromes in Western Germany so that German fighters are already in the air to attack the Br. machines when they cross Friesland.


Page 2
It is a fact that in Gaasterland and in the Ysselmeer, many more British planes have been shot down by night fighters than in other parts of our country, anti-aircraft-guns are not present there. About 10 k.m. N.E. of the town of Zwolle, only one fighter is stationed, which however does much harm to the crossing British bombers. We think this information is of great importance for you. On July 4th, The American Independence Day, one American bomber was destroyed near the aerodrome of Alkmaar, but before it was shot down it first sent to hell two German Messerschmitt fighters. In the night of July 25th to 26th one English bomber shot down two German planes to near Leiden, but fortunately the British plane was obliged to make an emergency-landing. The crew is safe but they are arrested by the Germans.


If Tommy arrives safely in England, we ask you, if it is possible, to broadcast in the Dutch News Bulletin of August the 16th at 7.45 hour am. European time the following information: "Tommy is veilig aangekomen". We shall be very glad, to hear that, and thank you in advance.


We send with many greetings to the British Forces who fight for the freedom of the world.


Long LIVE GREAT BRITAIN, LONG LIVE THE ALLIES.
LEVE DE KONINGIN. LEVE ONS VADERLAND. LEVE DE GEALLIEERDEN
WEG DET DE MOFFEN
Speciaal de groeten aan Bob von de Brabdanis Behougen vaart eneen goeden wacht.


Cheerio!!!!!! Twee Geuzen.


Message No. 855
Pigeon No. 43-7378 sent from Cambridge on 29th June 1944
Returned to Lyme Regis on 6th July 1944
Language in French from VAY (LOIRE INFERIEURE) dated 4th July 1944
Transmitted to SHAEF, M.I.14(d), A.I. 1(c), S.F., N.I.D.2. at 1050 hours on 7th July 1944

No enemy defences within a radius of 20 Kms., except on the outskirts of NANTES, which is protected by anti-tank guns, machine-gun nests, etc. on all the roads giving access to the town, and they are inter-connected. Searchlights and ack-ack dispersed on the outskirts (SEVRE, BOULEVARD DES ANGLAIS, LA CONTRIE, etc), but lately the numbers have considerably decreased.


At NANTES only the bridge PIRMIL and the BAC DU PELLERIN connecting the right and left side of the river remain.


According to information received, many coastal guns have been taken away and have been replaced by guns of wood, cement or any other tubular material. I have this information from a reliable source.
Important and official detail. The Germans have prepared and constructed between LA BAULE and PORNICHET, dummy cottages with shutters, doors, etc., painted in the usual colours, and provided with real guns of 77 or other calibre. They are ready for action through the openings of these cottages.


No important troops in this district within a radius of 20 Kms. 15 policemen at NOZAY.


The military convoys go by road because the railways have been cut coming from the district of NATES, SAVENAY, are going in the direction of RENNES, LAVAL, and only travel between 2300 and 0700 hrs. (official time).


There is a small petrol depot at LA MAILLARDAIS in the forest DU GAVRE. Principle centres of material are at LA CHAPELLE SUR ERDRE, SAVENAY, NANTES.


Feldkommandantur at NANTES, PLACE LOUIS XVI near the Cathedral, PONT DE CENS, near the college.


Kommandantur at SAVENAY and CHATEAUBRIANT.


The morale of the troops is not very brilliant, although some are still conceited. The mentality and attitude of all of them is dreadful.
No airfields in this district. CHATEAU BOUGON (NANTES) ESCOUBLAC LA BAULE, partially destroyed (only the runways are still serviceable).


Between FAY DE BRETAGNE and LE TEMPLE, village of MIREMONT, there are observation posts, from which the coast can be seen (50 Kms), on a windmill and on houses.


The harbour of ST. NAZAIRE is almost inactive. About 4 or 5 submarines in the basin, probably damaged.


With regard to your recent bombings, your dive-bombing on communication lines, roads, etc. is very effective, and was carried out with great precision. Bravo! But less efficient and more destructive are the 4-engined Fortresses, especially on NANTES. I cannot give you precise information with regard to bombing targets; since the events of the last days troops and depots are being moved about. According to information received, I would sum up stating that there are no important military troops within a radius of 100 Kms.


A MAQUIS, situated at SAFFRE (LOIRE INFERIEURE) has been discovered by the enemy. An energetic defence was put up. There were 13 killed, 27 made prisoners, who were shot at NANTES (CHATEAU DES DUCS). Stop sending arms to that MAQUIS. Your supplies by parachute on the night of 29th-30th June fell in the hands of the enemy, who have been masters of the district since the 28th.


The electric current is cut at all hours of the day, but we have made arrangements to establish a liaison, and are therefore "au courant", nevertheless. Sets have been taken away in the coastal region but not in our district.


Do not worry, dear Allies. We have been standing firm for 4 years now and we know all the defeatists, collaborators and especially the turncoats. We shake you by the hand. Together we shall win.
(Sgd) Julien et Jacques.



[Source of messages TNA: ADM 199/2475, transcribed by Arcre - Home]

 

I know everyone is aching for more pigeon exploits, so here goes...



EXTRACT FROM MILITARY REPORTS ON THE UNITED NATIONS
NUMBER 15 SIGNAL 15 FEBRUARY 1944


14. The use of Pigeons by the RAF


During the present war, the Royal Air Force has made extensive use of pigeons as an emergency means of communication. Pigeons are frequently carried in RAF aircraft on operational missions, and in several instances where planes have been forced down at sea and other communications have failed, pigeons released from their containers have homed successfully with a message from the crew, thus enabling a rescue to be effected. Several instances of the successful use of pigeons in this role are described below.


In February 1942, a Beaufort returning from operations made a forced landing in the sea as a result of engine failure. Prior to the landing, which was made at short notice, an SOS message was sent by radio. On impact the aircraft partially broke up, and the open pigeon containers fell into the sea. The crew, which had escaped in a dinghy, succeeded in recovering the pigeon containers, but one pigeon escaped wet (at 1630). The second pigeon was recovered too wet to fly, and endeavours were made to dry it by hand. An SOS message giving the crew’s position was attached to the pigeon, and it was released at about 1700. (This pigeon never arrived. It had only about 1- 1½ hours of daylight to cover the 120 miles to land, which, in its wet condition, it was most unlikely to do.) In the meantime, the SOS radio signal had been received, but it was so weak that the resultant fix was extremely vague, and an air search was ordered to cover an area of 70 miles square. This search was proceeding without success next morning, when the first pigeon (which had escaped) arrived at the base at 0820 and was duly identified as coming from the missing aircraft. The pigeon keeper NCO noted that the bird had been wet and was smeared with oil. He reported to Operations and ascertained the area being searched. He formed the opinion, judging from the pigeon’s condition, from the time of the forced landing (established by the faint radio signal), and from the weather conditions and the daylight available, that the bird could not have flown the distance from the area then being searched. He estimated that the maximum distance the pigeon could have covered would have been about 120 to 140 miles. At his suggestion, searching aircraft, which were operating beyond this radius, were redirected. The dinghy was sighted approximately 15 minutes later at a position 129 miles from base, and the crew was rescued shortly thereafter.


In June 1943, a Baltimore, suffering an engine failure on its return from an operation, “ditched” in the Mediterranean about 100 miles from its base. A radio SOS was sent and a fix obtained. The pigeon containers were not sealed in time, and one bird was drowned. The other was rescued wet and given time to dry, after a second accidental ducking in the oily sea. Visibility was only 2 miles, and a search by aircraft from the position of the fix was unsuccessful. The pigeon subsequently arrived at the base with the message, “Crew safe in dinghy 10 west of Tocra”. As a result of the pigeon message, the crew was picked up by launch the following morning.
In October 1943, a Catalina in difficulty landed in the sea at 0820 northwest of the Shetlands, about 60 miles from land. No SOS message was received from the aircraft. The weather was extremely poor, and when the aircraft became overdue, it was impossible for a place to take off to search for it. At 1700, a pigeon arrived at the base with the following message: “Aircraft ditched safely northwest Ronas. Heavy swell. Taxiing southeast.” After receipt of the message, a search by surface vessels proved successful, the plane being sighted and the crew rescued at 0005 the next morning. In this case, the pigeon homed successfully despite the presence of a 25-mph head wind; visibility at the place of release of the pigeon was 100 yards, and at the base, 300 yards.


These are but a few examples of the successful use by the RAF of pigeons in an SOS role. It should be noted that in all three of these cases where the pigeon contributed substantially to the rescue of an air crew, the conditions were extremely adverse to the pigeon – in two cases the bird was rendered wet and oily at the start, and in the other a thick fog and a strong headwind made its task extremely difficult. In cases where the bird has been released dry and undamaged and under favourable weather conditions, there has been only one recorded failure of a pigeon SOS; this isolated failure was held to be attributable to insufficient training of the pigeon.


This means of communication, which is intended primarily for use in emergency, is naturally dependent upon the accident of the emergency for opportunities of operation use. At the same time, it has to be maintained in a state of efficiency by practice and tests. Consequently, the practice and test flights necessarily far outnumber the operational flights.


The basic reliability of pigeons as a means of signal communication is demonstrated by the fact that within the practicable radius of 300 miles, the percentage of arrivals in Home Commands for various statistical periods, each covering several thousand releases, has varies between 86 and 96 percent. While the limit of operation effectiveness is considered to be 300 miles, there are several recorded instances in which pigeons have successfully spanned a distance of over 400 miles. Successful air releases by hand, without wrapping or special gear, have been effected up to 24,000 feet.


In addition to their use by aircraft, RAF pigeon installations, where suitably situated, have been used by marine craft. In one case where small craft of the Royal Navy were using RAF pigeons for communication in emergency or during radio silence, the presence of the pigeons was of service to an RAF crew which had been forced down at sea. A gunboat, while homeward bound near the enemy coast, found the crew of a ditched Stirling in a dinghy. Pigeons were not available to that Stirling squadron, and their radio had become unserviceable before ditching. Since some of the crew were seriously injured, the captain of the gunboat (which was then observing radio silence) released his pigeons, requesting an ambulance at dockside. He then proceeded to base, a distance of about 100 miles. Upon the boat’s arrival, the ambulance was waiting at the dock.


In a few cases, where the geographical position of RAF lofts has happened to be convenient and the need has arisen, RAF pigeons have worked for or linked up with other pigeon services. A useful example of this was afforded by the cooperation of the RAF in providing one link in an emergency pigeon communication. This proved to be of the utmost value at a time when signal communication was seriously disrupted for a considerable period. A substantial volume of traffic was carried without failure during an emergency of several days.


RAF pigeons, where suitably situated and sufficiently experienced, have been used for special tasks with considerable success, having regard to the hazards which precede release. The principal lesson to be learned from experience in this respect is that it is essential that the operators have sufficient instruction and practice with pigeons to make possible their successful use.


[Source: TNA WO 208/3558, transcribed by Arcre - Home]

 

Found this on IWM SOE Silk Code sheet similar amount of letters to the message in the container.

Does this help with who sent the message and why?

brithm

 

BBC News - Homing pigeon 'Bermuda Triangle' explained

 

Think I have found the last Pigeon unit in Germany

3 Field Force Pigeon Section Royal Signals of 1 Independent Administration Company in Bad Salzuflen with command Garrison Headquarters Troops recorded disbanding on 22 Jan 46

21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine

 

Not WW2 but this is from The West Cumberland Times from October 1914, regarding that pigeon fanciers at to register their birds to the local police.

 

This is an interestingsubject, that I only found out about since visiting Bletchley Park a few years ago. There's a room there devoted to this.
I've been in correspondence with member Jennifer Spangler in the USA who has done some research on the subject, and translated some of the french messages, which had been retrieved from some pigeons, for her into english.
I did wonder though, why the messages weren't in code?