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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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Pigeons in the Eighty Years’ War: The Siege of Zierikzee (1575-76 A.D.)
Last time we looked at the Eighty Years’ War, pigeons brought hope to the Dutch city of Leiden while it was under siege by the Spanish. But not all of the Dutch rebels’ attempts at using pigeons succeeded during that conflict. The city of Haarlem fell to the Spaniards in 1573 because they learned of…
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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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How to Sabotage Military Pigeons: A Primer
Since the Siege of Paris (1870-71), armies have tried to neutralize military pigeons. The reasons for this are easy to understand—pigeons allow the enemy to request aid and to receive confidential information from spies. To put a stop to these birds, militaries have recruited sharpshooters and hawks to dispatch them, or released intercepted pigeons with…
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The Swedish Military’s Pigeon Service: 1886 – 1949 A.D.
A lot of ink has been spilled about military pigeons and their heroic actions during wartime. But what about those in peacetime armies? This blog is part of an occasional series examining military pigeon services in countries with strong traditions of neutrality. This week, we look at Sweden’s former military pigeon service. Like most European…
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Pigeons in the Eighty Years’ War: The Siege of Leiden (1574-75 A.D.)
A European city encircled by enemy forces. The inhabitants—cut off from food and communication with the outside world for months—recruit pigeons to fly messages into the city. Sound familiar? Readers of this blog will undoubtedly be reminded of the 1870-71 Siege of Paris, but this scenario has happened several times in European history. This week,…
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Pigeons in the Iraq War: Interview with Stacy Jeambert, former Chief Warrant Officer for the 1st Marine Division
Several weeks ago, we wrote about how the 1st Marine Division used pigeons for chemical detection in the first months of the Iraq War. A rare instance of pigeons being used in modern warfare, the article has become the most popular one featured on this blog. To shed more light on this fascinating story, we…
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August De Corte: How Uncle Sam Stiffed An Innovative Pigeoneer During World War One
A declaration of war is often accompanied by economic opportunities. Governments invest heavily in industry to meet demand and fortune often follows those lucky enough to get a contract. But not in every case. Today, we discuss the plight of August De Corte, a pigeon fancier-cum-inventor who advised the United States Army Signal Corps during…
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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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