Winged Warriors of World Wars I and II

Homing pigeons saved thousands of lives during both World Wars.  Despite amazing technological progress in warfare during the early 20^th century, there were times when the military needed to rely on other methods of communication. An estimated 500,000 homing pigeons were used in the first World War. It was an old “technology” for new warfare.

Sometimes the front line moved forward faster than the Signal Corps could string new wiring for telephones or telegraphs. At other points lines were severed, cutting off communication.  Messengers on foot, on horseback or traveling by motorcycle were open targets and were frequently injured or killed.

Homing pigeons were fast and reliable. They seemed to appear out of nowhere, and that helped them get through. Pigeons could also work despite bombardments, dust, smoke, fog, and bad weather.  But they were not totally trouble-free. The military needed soldiers who understood pigeon care and could assure that the pigeons were in good health for arduous flights through dangerous territory. The birds were sometime needed to fly 300-600 miles.

The key to pigeon use was getting them where they needed to be. Homing pigeons are a one-way communication system. The birds can be dropped off in many locations, but they only fly one direction—-home. That said, birds can imprint on a pigeon loft different from the one where it was born. The military tried to breed pigeons near where they would be needed, but often, they had to teach the pigeons to return to a new home.

Where Were Pigeons Used?

Pigeons served in every military branch. Tanks dispatched pigeons to relay locations of hidden machine gun nests. Pilots launched the birds midair to quickly transmit reconnaissance information. Ships and sea planes that traveled relatively close to shore carried pigeons. If there were radio failures or emergencies, the pigeons were released so the crews could be found.

During World War I, some reconnaissance was conducted via hot air balloon. Rather than trying to string a telegraph wire up to a balloon, it was easy and efficient to take pigeons. When a message needed to be sent, it was attached to the pigeon and the bird was released. After leaving the balloon, pigeons generally circled once to get oriented and then flew directly for its loft.

How the Pigeon Story Began

Homing pigeons have been used throughout world history. As far back as the Greeks, pigeons were used to carry messages as well as for the sport of pigeon racing.

Pigeon use expanded as the Ottoman Empire grew and stretched across vast territory during the 14^th century.  Pigeon fanciers developed a “pigeon relay.”

Towers were built at intervals of about every 30-40 miles with pigeon lofts atop each tower. Sentinels were on continuous watch. When a pigeon arrived, the message was taken off the bird and transferred to another bird to carry the message on the next leg of the flight. This process was repeated across the territory.

Reuters News Service

Even with the telegraph available, Reuters News Service, a prominent news agency, opted to use pigeons for transmitting the latest news and stock prices between Germany and Belgium in 1850. They determined that birds were faster than the railway and more reliable than the newly developed telegraph. Reuters maintained at least 45 working pigeons in the company lofts.

Siege of Paris

At few times in history were pigeons more important than in the Siege of Paris (September 1870-January 1871).  Napoleon was under the impression that the French Army was more powerful than the Prussian military. When he declared war on Prussia in July of 1870, he was quickly surprised.

The Prussian Army was unified and well-trained, and they quickly moved forward to surround Paris. They cut telegraph lines and closed all paths into and out of the city.

Parisians soon saw that the only way to communicate was via homing pigeon. They needed to get their pigeons out of Paris so that the French military could send back news to those under siege.

Small hot air balloons with baskets containing 2-3 pigeons were employed to send out pigeons and information. Those on the outside retrieved the pigeons and sent them back with messages.

Though the Parisians could receive news, the Prussians effectively blocked the food supply. The French eventually had no choice but to surrender. The people were starving.

The Source of Birds in World War I

The homing pigeon is a feral pigeon, descended from the Rock Dove (Columba livia). The Rock Dove weighs about 1 pound, and they are powerful fliers. These birds can fly 12-15 hours per day, covering 500-700 miles. The average speed of the motivated flier can range from 30-60 mph. In a sprint, some homing pigeons have been timed traveling 90 mph.

The wild Rock Dove has an inherent homing instinct, which is the basis for the abilities of its descendants. (City pigeons are also feral pigeons but the homing instinct has not been reinforced by breeding.)

In Europe in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, pigeon racing using homing pigeons was a popular hobby. Once the military realized they might need fliers, they contacted hobbyists. Belgian citizens were particularly involved in the sport, so they quickly began working with the military to build needed lofts for the birds and to increase breeding.

How Do Pigeons Navigate?

For birds that are bred for racing or message-carrying, scientists have developed several theories for the “instinct of orientation.” They recognize that these birds have an instinctive ability to know where to go, but scientists note that they also have heightened perception of atmospheric pressure as well as excellent sight. Pigeons seem to see in color and can focus telescopically.

The more recent understanding of homing pigeons comes from zoologist William T. Keeton (1933-1980). He worked with pigeons over a period of years and discovered that they have tiny magnetic particles in their beaks. Their sense of the earth’s magnetic field tells them where they are and shows them where they need to be.

Scientists say that as pigeons get closer to home, they switch from “compass” navigation to visual navigation. They have excellent memories.  Since their vision is good, they can use visual cues. They sometimes take a slightly longer route because it is a path that is familiar to them. 

The United States Makes Pigeon Preparation

One of the contributions the U.S. made even before they entered the war was commissioning mobile pigeon lofts for the Allies. They contacted D.M. Sechler Carriage Company in Ohio, to build mobile pigeon lofts that could be shipped overseas.  The intent was to have lofts that could be moved along with the fighting.

Next, the U.S. Signal Corps needed to find men who could work with pigeons. The ideal candidates were American pigeon racers. The sport was not as poplar as in Europe, but there were pigeon clubs in the U.S.

The need for birds was so great that the military purchased birds from American breeders, but they knew they needed to establish breeding lofts in Europe so that the birds would acclimate more quickly.

The first U.S. Pigeon Service eventually included 50 mobile lofts, nine officers, 324 soldiers, and 6000 pigeons.

How Are the Birds Trained?

The process of training homing pigeons is consistent. Young birds are given time to acclimate to the pigeon loft that will be their home base. Once they are suitably settled, they are sent out for short flights. Most pigeon handlers have whistles or calls they can use to help educate the birds as to how to come home.

As the birds become familiar with the sights, sounds and atmosphere of their area, the pigeon handlers take the birds farther and farther away. They may start with a release that is just two miles away. Over time the distance is extended until the birds are sufficiently trained.  

Occasionally birds become disoriented or pause for a time, but unless they are killed, almost all birds find their way home.

Traveling by Basket

Homing pigeons are accustomed to traveling by basket, so the military got to work at creating ways to carry them into the field.  Small baskets were appropriate for many situations (tanks and ships, for example), but soldiers in the infantry and bicycle messengers were given backpacks fitted with bird  baskets.

Because dogs were often part of message systems, special harnesses were crafted. Two baskets were attached firmly to each side of the harness. When seen from afar, the dogs appeared to have wings. These dogs often needed canine gas masks to get through war zones. Once outfitted with the mask and the baskets, the dogs could have been mistaken for flying monsters as they dashed through a battlefield.

Pigeons traveling with spies were the only birds that didn’t need baskets. These birds were used to being tucked under a coat or inside clothing.  When the spy carrying the pigeon was ready to send a message, he wrote the note, inserted it into the pigeon’s leg tube and released their bird.

Pigeon handlers were taught not to coop birds up for too long. If the bird was enclosed for up to 48 hours, they were not in good shape for flight.

Soldiers were also told not to feed the birds too close to flight time. They needed to be hungry enough to go home right away but not so hungry that they stopped for a snack.

Bird Threats and Enemies

Enemy armies were well aware of how important the pigeons were. If pigeons were in active use, the military knew that there were would be enemy gunfire. Because snipers on both sides of any fight were quite good at what they did, two pigeons were always sent carrying the same message. If one pigeon was killed, the other bird might escape with the information. 

In addition to gunfire, birds of prey were a danger. Some were birds that were simply out in the wild, but opposing military also brought in hawks and Peregrine falcons as part of the defense arsenal.

But there was a catch. Birds of prey were clueless when it came to identifying pigeon allegiances. The German army also used homing pigeons, so if their own birds were being sent out with messages, they had to hold off on releasing the birds of prey.

How the Messages Were Carried

Messenger dogs had collars that could hold messages, but pigeons were free of encumbrance. While there were some variations, most messages were carried in small aluminum tubes attached to a bird’s leg. The tube was closed at both ends to keep rain or water from seeping in.

Occasionally messages were tied to a tail feather, but these messages were more vulnerable to damage than those attached to a leg.  

Messages ranged from short, handwritten notes to multiple messages that were photographed and reduced in size so that a number of missives could be sent. It was not uncommon for a pigeon tube to hold 15 feet of film negatives. Occasionally, these could be viewed in the field using a magic lantern. Other times the film needed to be developed and sent on.

The soldiers responsible for sending messages carried pigeons and supplies as well as protective cloths to cover the pigeon baskets in case of gas attack. Every pigeon unit had message books with carbons so that copies could be made.

In the military, lofts where message-carrying pigeons returned were rigged with a bell system. When the bird arrived, the soldiers in charge were notified by the tinkling of the bell.

A Well-Known Dog and Pigeon Story

Perhaps one of the best-known stories of message-carrying during World War I involved a messenger dog as well as two pigeons.

In 1916, the ancient city of Verdun was under attack. Its location on the Meuse River was at a cross-roads where armies could travel north and south as well as east and west. The Germans felt if they could destroy Verdun they would effectively wipe out French resistance.

Fighting had gone on for almost 10 months, but the Germans seemed to be closing in. They had taken position on a ridge overlooking Verdun and were preparing for a final attack.

At French headquarters, officers wanted to send word that they were sending more military units. They hoped that there would be a way to get word from Verdun as to what they might expect.

Seventeen Messengers Killed

Seventeen soldiers had been killed carrying messages, so the French military turned to Satan, a messenger dog in their K-9 unit. One of Satan’s handlers was trapped in Verdun. If they turned Satan loose, he would head as directly as possible for his handler. A message was inserted in the tube on Satan’s collar, and he was outfitted with a harness carrying two pigeon baskets. He also wore a gas mask.

Satan was released, and he headed off on a zig-zag pattern as he had been trained to do to confuse snipers. There was underbrush on the battlefield for part of his run. As he neared Verdun, he had to cross an open field. A German sniper fired and hit him. Satan went down, then staggered up again. The men called to him. Finally, French soldiers were close enough to dash out to carry him in.

The message on his collar was received with relief, and the commander quickly wrote a return message. The pigeons in Satan’s baskets were taken out. Messages were attached, and the birds were released.

As they feared, one bird was shot immediately. The other pigeon fluttered at first, but ultimately rose into the sky, taking with him the hopes of the citizens.

 One hour later, the French successfully targeted and brought down the Germans on the ridge. At last Verdun was free.

After the War, What About the Pigeons?

After World War I, there was disagreement as to what to do with the pigeons. It was a difficult question, as there were thousands of pigeons that had been part of the pigeon brigade. Many thought that they should be left in Europe, but General Pershing’s Signal Officer Colonel Edgar Russel wanted to bring them home. Russel knew the pigeons told an important story.

Ultimately, the Signal Corps selected 32 pigeons deemed as heroes, 10 captured German pigeons, and 132 birds that were ideal for breeding.

The rest of the pigeons were available to be purchased at auction. Soldiers could bid on their particular favorites. Others would be given to French and British military.

Pigeons in World War II

By World War II, pigeons were still needed but in fewer numbers.

One of the primary needs for the pigeons was for information gathering.   Emergency communication needs still occurred but this was a day before drones, and the military needed help with reconnaissance.

When the United States put out a call for pigeons in January of 1942, they received enthusiastic support. The American Racing Pigeon Union and the International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers both stepped forward to help. Many valuable birds were donated. One shipment from New York City consisted of 52,000 birds. Pigeon breeding stations were also set up in Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas.

Pigeon Cameras

Pigeon cameras were invented between the two wars, permitting pigeons to be the forerunners of drones. The birds could fly behind enemy lines and come home with a photographic record of what was happening.

Maidenform factories were already making parachutes for the war. They were soon commissioned to make camera-carrying vests. The vests were made of netting and were form-fitting for the birds, leaving wings, head, and feet all available for flying.

From April 1941-September 1944, the British used pigeons to track what was happening on the ground behind enemy lines. Pigeons were placed in containers with parachutes attached. Planes could drop them behind enemy lines. The  parachutes gave the birds a softer landing.

Resistance fighters as well as regular citizens picked up the birds, and sent back information. The Allies received everything from vital intelligence on Nazi plans to daily reality of life under Nazi regime.

D-Day News Reports

Author Cornelius Ryan wrote that correspondents on Juno Beach during WWII had no communication method until Ronald Clark of the UPI wire service came ashore with two baskets of carrier pigeons. The correspondents wrote their stories, inserted them into the aluminum capsules, and released the birds.

To read about some of the pigeons who were war heroes, click on Cher Ami and Other Heroes.

Use During Peacetime

Some homing pigeons were used long after the war.

One hospital in Granville, France, used pigeons to send blood samples inland to a test lab in Avranches. The drive time was about 30 minutes, and pigeons could deliver the samples in 25 minutes. They maintained this system until the pigeon keeper died in 1992.

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