-
Birds of Prey vs. Pigeons of War
Pigeons and birds of prey have had a troubled relationship since the beginning. As nations rushed to set up military pigeon services in the 19th century, officials devoted ample resources to preventing bird-on-bird attacks. This was a serious concern for militaries. Hawks, falcons, and even owls could quickly annihilate an entire flock of pigeons during…
-
Pigeons in the Iraq War
When people think of military pigeons, they usually associate them with a bygone era. It may come as a shock to many to learn that pigeons were actually used by the United States military in the 21st Century. This week, we take a look at an interesting chapter of the Iraq War involving pigeons and…
-
“You’re in the Army Now!”: When Pigeons Get Drafted
In discussions about military pigeons, little attention has been paid to how the birds even entered the armed forces. Typically, there were two routes. Some pigeons were like professional servicemembers—born and raised in government lofts, all they knew was a life of military camps and discipline. Others were like draftees—prize-winning racing birds in civilian life,…
-
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…
-
Military Pigeons in the 21st Century, Part III: China
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 the past two weeks, we’ve explored the world’s last military pigeon services. So far, we’ve learned…
-
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. …
-
The Austro-Hungarian Military’s Pigeon Service: 1875 – 1918 A.D.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was founded in 1867, the result of a compromise between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. It entered the world stage as a Great Power, and like all the others, raced to establish a military pigeon service in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War. The first military pigeon station was…
-
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…
-
Flying Incognito: Pigeons in Camouflage
One of the many innovations to come out of the Great War was camouflage. Concealment has been a wartime tactic since time immemorial, but the concept of using stylized patterns to disguise military equipment emerged in the first month of the War. Two French painters who had been mobilized into an artillery regiment hid their…
-
War Birds on Stage
Military pigeons have frequently inspired creators. That’s not surprising—their heroic deliveries of important battlefield dispatches amidst torrents of gunfire are ripe for artistic endeavors. Cher Ami’s transmission of the message that saved hundreds of American soldiers is portrayed in the 2001 film The Lost Battalion. The BBC sitcom Blackadder humously depicted the consequences of shooting…
Pigeons of War 