Pigeons required for British troops occupying Austria, 1945

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog number WO170/5604  #001, #018

This page from the 1945 War Diary for the 21 H.Q.C. Pigeon Section documents in May the need for pigeons for British troops occupying Austria.  Also, a note is made about a discussion of pigeon sections needed in the Far East.

Request for pigeon equipment for sea rescues, 1943

Pigeon in Rome by D. Truong

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog number WO204/3930 #16

 

If you would like to learn about the how the RAF used pigeons for sea rescues, you could listen to John Appleton on the Imperial War Museum site.  Here are the notes from the July 24, 2015 post with the link to John Appleton.

Australian John Appleton who served with British Royal Air Force explains procedure for releasing pigeons from downed aircraft

Here is the description of John Appleton from the Imperial War Museum site:

Australian served as apprentice with RAF Aircraft Apprentice Scheme in GB, 1940-1942; aircraftman and NCO served with RAF Coastal Command in GB, 1942-1943; NCO served with No 210 Sqdn RAF Coastal Command in GB, 1943-1944 including operations over Atlantic and Arctic and sinking of U-347; served with No 131 Operational Training Unit RAF Coastal Command in Northern Ireland, 1944-1945; officer served with No 4 Operational Training Unit RAF Coastal Command in Northern Ireland, 1944-1945

On reel 12 of this interview conducted by the Imperial War Museum, he explains the procedure for how the 2 pigeons carried on board RAF aircraft in WWII were released.  Each station for Coastal Command had a Corporal Pigeon Keeper, 2 Aircraft Pigeon Keepers, and 100 or more pigeons.

Here is the link to listen:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80015083


This interview is not about how pigeons delivered intelligence in WWII, but it is a detailed account of how pigeons were used by the RAF.

Recommendation for pigeons to be used in North Africa because of successful use in Middle East, 1943

The British Army in Italy 1945

Commando Signallers prepare to release a carrier pigeon, Lake Comacchio area, April 4, 1945

Imperial War Museum Collection; originally from War Office Second World War Official Collection

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog number WO204/3930  #11

New Zealand Pigeon Service

The images of these two pages were sent to me by author Cliff Lord.

 

Request for pigeon loft and pigeons for detachment signed by Eisenhower, 1943

 

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

WO204/3930  #2, #3, #5, #6

May 12 communication below

Requisition for 5,000 pigeons, 1943

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog number WO204/3930  #2