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Military Pigeons

3 months

New blog post! Pigeons in the Hut Tax War of Sierra Leone, 1898! The first time the British Army used pigeons in combat!

Pigeons in the Hut Tax War of Sierra Leone, 1898

When did the British Army first use pigeons in combat? World War One? The Boer War? The answer is the Hut Tax War of 1898, a relatively obscure colonial uprising in Sierra Leone. …

pigeons-of-war.com

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Military Pigeons

@MilitaryPigeons

2 years

RAF Pigeon Service Manual, date unknown

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5 months

Illustration of the proper way for a Soviet Army Pigeoneer to wear pigeons, c. 1937 (courtesy of The Homing Pigeon: Its Purpose & Use)

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4 months

Museum display of a British WWI-era pigeon parachute device (courtesy of the Imperial War Museum)

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5 months

Illustration of the proper method of wrapping a Royal Air Force pigeon for air delivery, c. 1919 (courtesy of the RAF Pigeon Service Manual)

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5 months

Sketch depicting the proper method of grabbing a US Army pigeon, c. 1924 (courtesy of US Army Training Manual No. 32, The Pigeoneer)

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2 years

Soviet Pigeon Handler Instructions, c. 1937

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4 months

Member of the Swiss Women's Auxiliary Service holding a pigeon, c. 1968 (courtesy of the Historic Media Library)

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Military Pigeons

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6 months

Poster for the US Coast Guard's Project Sea Hunt, an experimental program in the '70s that used pigeons to help find lost boaters. It was discontinued in the '80s owing to budget cuts. (courtesy of the Department of Defense)

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Military Pigeons

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1 year

Soviet military instructions demonstrating how to wear a pigeon vest, c. 1937

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

Captured German pigeons being displayed at a victory parade in New York City, May 3, 1919

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Military Pigeons

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1 year

The US Army’s Pigeon Service possessed many fine birds. Cher Ami is perhaps the most famous, as is GI Joe. But not many folks know about Spike, who completed over 52 missions during WWI. In this Twitter thread, we’ll take a closer look at Spike and his accomplishments. (1)

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Military Pigeons

@MilitaryPigeons

7 months

2000 followers! I still can't believe so many people love pictures of military pigeons! Thanks for all the comments, likes, follows, and shares over all the years!

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Military Pigeons

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1 year

Mounted display of VC Pigeon, a British Army pigeon that delivered a message during the Battle of Passchendaele despite being shot by a German sniper, WWI (courtesy of the Royal Signals Museum)

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

Future Queen Elizabeth with one of the Army's birds during the Second World War

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1 year

RIP Kaiser, who passed away 74 years ago today. A German military pigeon captured during WWI, he was used by the US Army's Pigeon Service for breeding purposes, living until the ripe old age of 32.

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Military Pigeons

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8 months

Non-pigeon-related news, but I just received a promotion at my day job! You're looking at a newly minted Administrative Law Judge!

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2 years

Swiss Army soldier introducing a pigeon to a service dog, which will carry the bird on its side harness, c. 1939-45 (courtesy of Kooperationinitiative Museen Baselland)

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7 months

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2 years

Painting of Portuguese (?) soldiers releasing pigeons, c. late 1800s

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3 months

Member of the Swiss Women's Auxiliary Service holding a pigeon, c. 1982 (courtesy of the Historic Media Library)

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Military Pigeons

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10 months

In 2023, I was fortunate enough to have 2 military pigeon articles accepted for publication by two wonderful institutions! Both pieces concern a WWI-era military pigeon unit at an army base near Little Rock, Arkansas. For links and further info, read on! (1/7)

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Military Pigeons

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1 year

Sketch depicting the proper method of grabbing a US Army pigeon, c. 1924 (courtesy of US Army Training Manual No. 32, The Pigeoneer)

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Military Pigeons

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5 months

Illustration of proper method for releasing pigeons from US Army aircraft, c. 1924 (courtesy of US Army Training Manual No. 32, The Pigeoneer)

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1 year

An old favorite of mine! From an RAF Pigeon Service Manual written shortly after the end of the First World War.

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Military Pigeons

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1 year

Did you know pigeons were used in combat as recently as the Iraq War? Instead of being used for communication, the 1st Marine Division recruited them for chemical detection work. Read on to find out more! A TWITTER THREAD! (1/20)

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

British sailor posing with a civilian pigeon that flew onto the HMS Montrose while at sea, c. 2018 (courtesy of Dan Rosenbaum)

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3 months

Happy Fourth of July!

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5 months

Colorized photo of a camouflaged British mobile pigeon loft, June 1918, WWI (courtesy of David McLellan)

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Military Pigeons

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1 year

Did you know several Roman military commanders relied on pigeons while waging war? And contrary to a commonly reprinted myth, it wasn’t Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars! Today, we look at how pigeons were used in the Siege of Mutina (44-43 BC). A TWITTER THREAD! (1/17)

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Military Pigeons

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6 months

Finnish military pigeons walking around in snow, c. 1920s-30s (courtesy of Timo Heinonen)

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11 months

British military pigeon William of Orange wearing the Dickin Medal, which he received for delivering messages during the Battle of Arnhem in Sept. 1944 (courtesy of Maroc Pigeon)

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3 months

Japanese soldier with pigeon, WWII (courtesy of ABC)

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2 years

From a US Coast Guard program, c. 1970s - 1980s

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5 months

Poster warning the Danish public not to shoot homing pigeons, as they could be serving in the country's military (courtesy of Dansk Militærhistorie)

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Military Pigeons

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3 months

Members of the Japanese Army's pigeon section prepare shrines for deceased pigeons, c. 1938, Second Sino-Japanese War (courtesy of Sina)

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Military Pigeons

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6 months

Found an old word for pigeon lover: "philoperisteron"! It appears this word was used to refer to pigeon clubs, as in "the Philoperisteron Society of London." Thank you Illustrated London News, circa 1851!

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

Merry Christmas!

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2 years

German pigeon captured by US troops during the St. Mihiel Offensive in WWI, Jan. 1919

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10 months

Portrait of Le Gambetta, a pigeon who flew messages into Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, c. 1890 (courtesy of musée de l’Armée)

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

US Army pigeons gathered around a Signal Corps' standard issue bath pan (PG-38), WWII, c. 1944-45 (courtesy of War Department Technical Manual TM 11-410)

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

British mobile pigeon loft, WWI

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2 years

George, an RAF pigeon that brought important info back to HQ a dozen times, WWI, c. 1917-1918

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2 years

Two Wehrmacht soldiers demonstrating how a pigeon can be stored in a special coat pocket, c. 1938 (courtesy of Getty Images)

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2 years

Rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth.

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6 months

Illustration of carrier pigeons taken aboard the Prince Albert, a relief ship sent in search of the Lost Franklin Expedition, May 1851 (courtesy of The London Illustrated News)

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2 years

US Army Signal Corps recruitment ad for pigeoneers, c. 1919-1920s

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

Member of the Swiss Women's Auxiliary Service holding a pigeon, c. 1982 (courtesy of the Historic Media Library)

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Military Pigeons

@MilitaryPigeons

2 years

1000 followers! It's absolutely wonderful to see so many people interested in the exploits of military pigeons. Thank you all so much!

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

British sailor holding "Pauley," a stowaway racing pigeon that was found aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, c. 2020

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2 years

Two US Army pigeons posing with their squabs, who are resting in a standard issue Signal Corps' nest (PG-75), WWII, c. 1944-45 (courtesy of War Department Technical Manual TM 11-410)

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2 years

RAF airman guarding pigeon houses, WWII

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2 years

Newly hatched pigeons at the German Army's pigeon station in Spandau, c. 1930s (courtesy of United Archives)

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7 months

Postcard depicting the French Army's pigeon service, WWII, c. 1940 (courtesy of Paul Barber)

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2 years

An employee of the British Ministry of Information examines a pigeon with a roll of film attached to its wing, WWII, c. 1941 (courtesy of Getty Images)

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2 years

The German Army's pigeon station in the Spandau district of Berlin, c. 1912. The loft served as a teaching, breeding, and research institute for the Army's pigeons. (courtesy of the Archiv des Stadtgeschichtlichen Museums Spandau)

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Military Pigeons

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4 months

British military pigeon getting loaded up into a container for airdropping over occupied territories, WWII (courtesy of the RPRA)

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2 years

German soldier carrying pigeons on back, WWII

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

Latest eBay purchase: A British Pigeon Service leg holster from WWI!

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1 year

Photo of The Dundee Life Saver, a British military pigeon that flew 22 miles in 22 minutes, delivering a message leading to the rescue of two downed airman, WWI (courtesy of the State Library of Victoria)

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2 years

A member of the Swiss Women's Auxiliary Service holding a pigeon, c. 1968 (courtesy of the Historic Media Library)

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2 years

Braddock, a newspaper pigeon who delivered a live canary to a sick child in the hospital. Later drafted by the US Army in WWII.

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Military Pigeons

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10 months

Museum display of British Army pigeons, WWI, c. 1918 (courtesy of the Natural History Museum)

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2 years

US Army mobile pigeon loft, WWI, (public domain)

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Military Pigeons

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11 months

More fantastic pigeon news - statue dedicated to Dickin Medal winner Winkie in Dundee!

The pigeon that saved lives in WWII gets a statue

A bronze statue of WWII heroine Winkie the pigeon is unveiled near Dundee to honour her achievements

www.bbc.com

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11 months

Odisha Police pigeon flying out of loft during training to carry police messages, Jun. 9, 2023 (courtesy of REUTERS/Sunil Kataria)

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2 years

A British paratrooper prepares a carrier pigeon before takeoff in southern England, WWII, (courtesy of Getty Images)

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3 years

Homing Pigeon, French Army, 2021

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2 years

British soldiers with pigeons, WWII (unknown collection)

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2 years

Interior of a British field loft on the Eastern Front, WWI, date unknown

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2 years

A German military dog loaded up with pigeons, WWII, c. 1940s (courtesy of the United Archives)

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

Happy Swiss Independence Day! The Swiss Army maintained an elite pigeon force until 1994. It trained its pigeons to fly at night and travel between 2 and even 3 destinations!

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2 years

Pigeon flying over German soldiers, WWI (courtesy of Archiv des Stadtgeschichtlichen Museums Spandau)

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5 months

US Army soldier demonstrating a four pigeon basket, c. 1924 (courtesy of US Army Training Manual No. 32, The Pigeoneer)

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2 years

Belgian cavalry soldier with pigeon on his back, WWI, c. 1914 (courtesy of Bibliothèque nationale de France)

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2 years

Two recruits of the German Luftwaffe with a carrier pigeon, c. 1930s (courtesy of the United Archives).

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2 years

G.I. Joe and his Dicken Medal, WWII, c. 1946

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1 year

Illustration of Sadie Jones, who attained a record-setting flight of 1212 miles. Her owner offered her to the Pennsylvania Naval Militia during the Spanish-American War. (courtesy of The Stratton Signal)

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2 years

British soldiers with pigeon, WWI (public domain)

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2 years

Ruhr Express, a British RAF pigeon who won the Dickin Medal for transmitting info from the Ruhr Valley in April 1945.

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2 years

German Army pigeon with a message holder, WWI (courtesy of Archiv des Stadtgeschichtlichen Museums Spandau)

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7 months

Illustration of Italian military dogs transporting pigeons to the Eastern Front, Nov. 14, 1943, WWII (courtesy of La Domenica del Corriere)

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1 year

Picture of Winkie and her Dickin Medal, WWII, c. 1944 (courtesy of the Imperial War Museum)

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2 years

A pigeon from the Germany Army's pigeon station in Spandau, c. 1930s (courtesy of the United Archives).

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2 years

Spike, a US Army pigeon that delivered over 52 messages during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in WWI.

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2 years

Happy Veterans Day! Thanks to all veterans out there for your service.

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2 years

Three Pigeons IPA, a beer brewed by Mare Island Brewing Company that commemorates the flock the US Navy maintained at the Mare Island Navy Yard from 1896-1901.

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1 year

Illustration of a flock of Royal Navy pigeons from the Portsmouth, U.K. loft, c. 1899-1900 (courtesy of The Boy's Own Paper)

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Military Pigeons

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1 year

The Invasion of Normandy on 6/6/44 changed the course of World War II, laying the groundwork for the liberation of France. Remarkably, homing pigeons played a minor role in the landings. Today, we look at one of those birds, Gustav A TWITTER THREAD (1/14)

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2 years

Trading card depicting the French cavalry on maneuvers with pigeons, c. 1903 (public domain)

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Military Pigeons

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2 years

Cheers to over 1500 followers! I'm thrilled that so many people care about military pigeons.

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2 years

Latest Ebay score! A US Army Signal Corps pigeon leg ring from WWII!

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2 years

Member of the Swiss Women's Auxiliary Service holding a pigeon, June 18, 1971 (courtesy of Historic Media Library)

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2 years

A member of the Royal Air Force trains a pigeon, WWII, August 1914 (courtesy of the United Archives)

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2 years

"Winkie" with her Dickin Medal, WWII, 1944

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2 years

German spy pigeon, WWI, c. 1917-1918

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1 year

G.I. Joe, a US Army pigeon that saved over 100 lives by delivering a message canceling a planned American air aid, receives the Dickin Medal for his actions, WWII, c. 1946 (courtesy of Все о Второй мировой)