Because I'm a bird watcher, my daughter sent me the book, Ten Birds that Changed the World. I was surprised to read in Chapter Two (Pigeon, Columba livia domestica), about the use of pigeons by the British in World War II. This led me to the book, Operation Columba, The Secret Pigeon Service, The Untold Story of World War II Resistance in Europe, by Gordon Correra. I missed this book when it came out in 2018. Sorry if it is old news and already discussed.
British Intelligence worked out the logistics of parachuting pigeons in small containers into Nazi occupied Holland, Belgium and France. They commenced in April 1941. The pigeon containers had an envelope with a questionnaire, and rice paper for return message. The questionnaire ended with: "Thank you. Take courage. We will not forget you."
By July 2, 1941 (a little more than five months before Pearl Harbor for my Colleagues who are counting) British Intelligence had a written report of the first three months of the homing pigeon drops: "…221 birds had been released over Flanders, Normandy and Brittany. Forty-six returned, 19 with messages, 17 of which contained information."
Ultimately over 16,000 pigeons were dropped into occupied Europe and over 1,800 of the pigeons returned. I agree with the Daily Mail, "No Frederick Forsyth thriller could be as gripping as this real-life story."
British Intelligence worked out the logistics of parachuting pigeons in small containers into Nazi occupied Holland, Belgium and France. They commenced in April 1941. The pigeon containers had an envelope with a questionnaire, and rice paper for return message. The questionnaire ended with: "Thank you. Take courage. We will not forget you."
By July 2, 1941 (a little more than five months before Pearl Harbor for my Colleagues who are counting) British Intelligence had a written report of the first three months of the homing pigeon drops: "…221 birds had been released over Flanders, Normandy and Brittany. Forty-six returned, 19 with messages, 17 of which contained information."
Ultimately over 16,000 pigeons were dropped into occupied Europe and over 1,800 of the pigeons returned. I agree with the Daily Mail, "No Frederick Forsyth thriller could be as gripping as this real-life story."