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ON WINGS OF WAR

© Joy Butler

A thousand British ground troops, in World War II, rejoiced in their victory over an Italian village, only to learn that Allied planes were scheduled to bomb that same village within the hour. Fearing for their lives, they attempted to radio a message to the rear to cancel the mission. The radio failed. Heroically, GI Joe flew 20 miles in 20 minutes delivering the message just moments before warplanes were to take off, thus saving a thousand lives. GI Joe was a pigeon.

Throughout history, pigeons have been used as messengers. In the 12th century they delivered communication between Iraq and Syria, and reported, to England, Napoleon's defeat in the battle of Waterloo. In both world wars and the Korean war, military pigeons were carried on airplanes and warships. They flew with cameras to take pictures of the enemy, and delivered messages when damaged radios failed. They found their way from different lofts, through darkness, bad weather and showers of bullets, and 95% of them completed their missions even when badly wounded. Even the dove that Noah sent forth from the ark to bring back the message of dry land, is said to have been a European Rock Dove, which is the common pigeon we see in parks today.

During times of peace and prosperity, urban communities have complained of pigeons carrying diseases and soiling cars and sidewalks. The truth is that, according to veterinarians, they carry no more diseases than parakeets and canaries and it is doubtful that the 194 servicemen of Major Whittlesay's "Lost Battalion" complained when Cheri Ami reached his loft. The registered black check cock arrived, shot through the breast, with a message capsule dangling from his shattered leg. Due to this loyal bird's courage and determination, these soldiers were rescued, and safe behind American lines in a few short hours.

One stormy night during World War II, the Catalina Flying Boat was stranded in choppy waters, due to engine and radio failure. When the aircraft failed to reach its destination on time, searches were conducted, but severe weather conditions hindered them. Yet a beautiful bird named White Vision winged her way 60 miles into a 25 mph headwind, braving darkness and rough weather to descend through the clouds delivering information of their location. All 11 crew members were rescued.

Many more pigeons performed heroic feats during war times. Spike flew 50 missions and was never injured. Snow White successfully completed a mission in Berlin during heavy bombardment. The Mocker, a beautiful speckled pigeon flew 52 missions, wounded on the last one, losing his left eye and part of his cranium. A military pigeon named President Wilson continued his mission, wounded, and saved many American infantrymen. Scotch-Lass was dropped with a secret agent in the Netherlands in 1944. He accomplished his mission all the way to England, wounded, to deliver important micro-photos. Another English pigeon, Mary, was wounded 22 times in five years of flights and then was killed in action.