Also posted on the Military Forum:

Because I'm a bird watcher, my daughter sent me the book, Ten Birds that Changed the World. I was surprised to read in Chapter Two (Pigeon, Columba livia domestica), about the use of pigeons by the British in World War II. This led me to the book, Operation Columba, The Secret Pigeon Service, The Untold Story of World War II Resistance in Europe, by Gordon Correra. I missed this book when it came out in 2018. Sorry if it is old news and already discussed.

British Intelligence worked out the logistics of parachuting pigeons in small containers into Nazi occupied Holland, Belgium and France. They commenced in April 1941. The pigeon containers had an envelope with a questionnaire, and rice paper for return message. The questionnaire ended with: "Thank you. Take courage. We will not forget you."

By July 2, 1941 (a little more than five months before Pearl Harbor for my Colleagues who are counting) British Intelligence had a written report of the first three months of the homing pigeon drops: "…221 birds had been released over Flanders, Normandy and Brittany. Forty-six returned, 19 with messages, 17 of which contained information."

Ultimately over 16,000 pigeons were dropped into occupied Europe and over 1,800 of the pigeons returned. I agree with the Daily Mail, "No Frederick Forsyth thriller could be as gripping as this real-life story."

In the Longest Day movie pigeons are shown being used to send messages from Sword Beach.

In The Lost Battalion movie pigeons are shown to send messages to headquarters to cease artillery fire.
Also shows Germans firing at the birds

ABATTBQ87 said:

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In the Longest Day movie pigeons are shown being used to send messages from Sword Beach.

In The Lost Battalion movie pigeons are shown to send messages to headquarters to cease artillery fire.
Also shows Germans firing at the birds

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Thanks for Intel!

Cher Ami one of the pigeons sent out by The Lost Battalion lost a leg, an eye and was shot in the breast. He still completed his mission and medics had to save his life. But he eventually succumbed to his wounds in 1919. He is on display at the Smithsonian, a true animal war hero.

Quote:

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In The Lost Battalion movie pigeons are shown to send messages to headquarters to cease artillery fire.

Also shows Germans firing at the birds

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That's World War I. They were much more commonly used in that conflict because of the inadequacies of radio, which was not very portable. In World War II, they were still used, but in a more backup role.

aalan94 said:

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Quote:

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In The Lost Battalion movie pigeons are shown to send messages to headquarters to cease artillery fire.

Also shows Germans firing at the birds

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That's World War I. They were much more commonly used in that conflict because of the inadequacies of radio, which was not very portable. In World War II, they were still used, but in a more backup role.

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I know that just using the movie as an example of pigeon communication in warfare

They used pigeons to try and make guided bombs. Those ww2 scientists were a little crazy.

Didn't work but did work better than the Cia using cats in the 60s to try and spy on spys