Signal Pigeon Company

This special re-print edition of the United States War Department's book "Signal Pieon Manual" provides information on the use of Homing Pigeons as messengers during the Second World War. Written in 1944, this manual was issued to members of the U.S. Signal Pigeon Corps. The United States Army Pigeon Service (a.k.a. Signal Pigeon Corps) was a unit of the United States Army during World War I and World War II. Their assignment was the training and usage of homing pigeons for communication and reconnaissance purposes. During World War II, the force consisted of 3,150 soldiers and 54,000 war pigeons, which were considered an undetectable method of communication. Over 90% of US Army messages sent by pigeons were received. This reprinted text is fascimile of the manual issued during the last years of World War Two to enlisted men in the Signal Pigeon Corps on how to care for and utilize homing pigeons as millitary messengers. A fascinating read. Note: This edition is a perfect facsimile of the original edition and is not set in a modern typeface. As a result, some type characters and images might suffer from slight imperfections or minor shadows in the page background.

For more than seven decades, homing pigeons provided the U.S. military with its fastest most reliable means of communication. Originally bred for racing in the early 1800s, homing pigeons were later trained by pigeoneers to fly up to 60 mph for hundreds of miles, and served the United States for almost 75 years, through four wars on four continents. Barely weighing a pound, these extraordinary birds carried messages in and out of gas, smoke, exploding bombs and gunfire. They flew through jungles, deserts and mountains, not faltering even when faced with large expanses of ocean to cross. Sometimes they arrived nearly dead from wounds or exhaustion, refusing to give up until they reached their objective. This book is the first complete account of the remarkable service that homing pigeons provided for the American armed forces, from its fledgling beginnings after the Civil War to the birds' invaluable role in communications in every branch of the U.S. military through both World Wars and beyond. Personal narratives, primary sources and news articles tell the story of the pigeons' recruitment and training in the U.S., their deployment abroad and use on the home front.

The US Army Signal Pigeon Corps served from 1917-1957. During those four decades of distinguished service, the pigeoneers built a world class program that provided the Army reliable communications during WWI, WWII and the Korean War. Little is known about this important program that contributed so much to the Army efforts around the globe. The organization and gear are explored in detail in this unique study. Long forgotten photos from the National Archives and Signal Corps are seen for the first time in decades. The operations of the Signal Pigeon Company in WWII are detailed extensively. Nearly all of the Army pigeon gear is shown in this book. The operations of the Pigeon Corps during the Korean War and Cold War era are also documented. The US Army created 12 Signal Pigeon Companies during WWII with over 50,000 pigeons in their lofts. They served in the United States, Africa, Europe and Asia. Their winged messengers delivered 95% of their messages at speeds as high as 100 miles per hour. Many lives were saved as pigeons "got the message through." This amazing story needs to be told and understood.

For more than seven decades, homing pigeons provided the U.S. military with its fastest most reliable means of communication. Originally bred for racing in the early 1800s, homing pigeons were later trained by pigeoneers to fly up to 60 mph for hundreds of miles, and served the United States for almost 75 years, through four wars on four continents. Barely weighing a pound, these extraordinary birds carried messages in and out of gas, smoke, exploding bombs and gunfire. They flew through jungles, deserts and mountains, not faltering even when faced with large expanses of ocean to cross. Sometimes they arrived nearly dead from wounds or exhaustion, refusing to give up until they reached their objective. This book is the first complete account of the remarkable service that homing pigeons provided for the American armed forces, from its fledgling beginnings after the Civil War to the birds' invaluable role in communications in every branch of the U.S. military through both World Wars and beyond. Personal narratives, primary sources and news articles tell the story of the pigeons' recruitment and training in the U.S., their deployment abroad and use on the home front.