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“Little Feathered Heroes”: Camp Pike’s Pigeon Service, 1917-1919
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Pigeon Heroes of the Great War: Spike
Many of the famed war pigeons we’ve discussed at Pigeons of War were maimed in battle. This is not surprising, given that the birds served in active war zones. As visible targets flying over enemy lines, pigeons frequently lost legs, eyes, and wings. But some pigeons manage to remain injury-free in war. This week, we…
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The Poilus: A Tale of Two War Pigeons
Many of the pigeons that participated in the Great War received names related to the conflict. The first American pigeon to deliver a message from the trenches was named Gunpowder, while British soldiers called one prominent bird Dreadnought. It should not come as a surprise, then, to learn that at least two pigeon heroes of…
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Old Anchor: A Naval Pigeon That Jumped Ship During World War One
In the final months of the Great War, the German Army frequently left behind their pigeons as they beat a hasty retreat from encroaching Allied forces. Many of these abandoned birds, as we’ve previously written about, were eagerly adopted by the Americans, who incorporated them into breeding programs back stateside. But Germany’s Army was not…
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Braddock: The Newspaper Pigeon Who Joined The Army
At Pigeons of War, we’ve devoted several articles to famous war pigeons. We’ve written about Gustav and President Wilson, for instance, both of whom spent their formative years in the military. However, thousands of pigeons from all walks of life were donated to the military during both World Wars. This week, we take a look…
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Gustav: D-Day’s Finest Pigeon
This past Monday was the 78th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, popularly known as D-Day. A monumental achievement, the invasion changed the course of World War II, laying the groundwork for the liberation of France. An often ignored aspect of that day is the role pigeons played in the landings. Today, we look…
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Military Pigeons in the 21st Century, Part II: France
Since the end of the Second World War, most of the world’s militaries have decommissioned their pigeon services. A few, however, have held onto their birds. In this ongoing series, we’ll take a closer look at these holdouts. For nearly 80 years, almost every European military had a pigeon service at one point or another. …
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Pigeon POWs of the Great War
To the victor go the spoils. That pithy phrase has justified the wholesale seizure of property during wartime for millennia. Throughout the Great War, both the Allies and the Central Powers confiscated military equipment from one another when the opportunity presented itself. Trucks, ships, airplanes—each captured piece of equipment had the potential to bolster militaries…
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Old Satchelback: The Loveable Loser
They got a name for the winners in the world And I want a name when I lose They call Alabama the Crimson Tide Call me Deacon Blues The jazz-rock group Steely Dan celebrated dignified loserdom in their 1977 song “Deacon Blues.” As the above passage suggests, the song’s protagonist—a hapless daydreamer—wants to be remembered…
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Happy Jack: The Pigeon of Mons?
Cher Ami. GI Joe. President Wilson. These are among the most celebrated homing pigeons of the more than one million that served in both World Wars. But what about all the others? This is the first part in an occasional series that examines lesser-known war pigeons. On August 23rd, 1914, the British Expeditionary Force and…
Pigeons of War 