war pigeons

a bit of bed time reading but please read a lot there but this is what i throw at people when they knock our birds and call them rats of the sky i work hard to suport our sport.

The ability to communicate is essential to soldiers in the field. Without communications to their commanders or support units in the rear area, soldiers on the front line can't send messages about their progress, request needed supplies, or call for help when things reach their worst.

During World War I, messages were sometimes transmitted by wire (telegraph of field phone), but two-way radio communications had not yet become available. Sometimes a unit was ordered to attack over a broad and often difficult terrain, making it impossible to string the wire necessary for communications. In these situations, a field commander often carried with him several carrier pigeons.

Pigeons served many purposes during the war, racing through the skies with airplanes, or even being fitted with cameras to take pictures of enemy positions. But one of the most important roles they served it was as messengers. An important message could be written on a piece of paper, then that paper neatly folded and secured in a small canister attached to a pigeon's leg. Once the pigeon was released, it would try to fly to its home back behind the lines, where the message would be read and transmitted to the proper military planners.

The United States Army is divided among several different specialties, the men from each specialty trained for a particular kind of work. Infantrymen are trained to fight on the ground, artillerymen are responsible for the big guns, armor refers to the men who fight in tanks, and the Air Service was the name for the group of soldiers who fought in the air during World War I. One of the oldest of these groups of soldiers was the members of the U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS. Since the birth of our Nation, it was these men that were responsible for insuring that messages between all units, (including messages to other branches of service like the Navy and Marines), got through. The Army Signal Corps identifies itself by a torch with two crossed flags. These represent SIGNAL FLAGS, a common way that messages were passed using code.

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the Army Signal Corps was given 600 pigeons for the purpose of passing messages when it couldn't be done by signal flag or field phone. The pigeons were donated by bird breeders in Great Britain, then trained for their jobs by American soldiers.

During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the 2-month battle that finally ended World War I, 442 pigeons were used in the area of Verdun to carry hundreds of messages. This is how the system worked:

When a commander in the field needed to send a message, he first wrote it out on paper, trying to be both brief and yet as detailed as possible. Then he called for one of his Signal Corps officers, who would bring one of the pigeons that went with the soldiers into battle. The message would be put in the capsule on the birds leg, and then the bird would be tossed high in the air to fly home.

The carrier pigeon would fly back to his home coop behind the lines. When he landed, the wires in the coop would sound a bell or buzzer, and another soldier of the Signal Corps would know a message had arrived. He would go to the coop, remove the message from the canister, and then send it by telegraph, field phone or personal messenger, to the right persons.

Carrier pigeons did an important job. It was also very dangerous. If the enemy soldiers were nearby when a pigeon was released, they knew that the bird would be carrying important messages, and tried their best to shoot the pigeon down so the message couldn't be delivered.

Some of these pigeons became quite famous among the infantrymen they worked for. One pigeon named "The Mocker", flew 52 missions before he was wounded. Another was named "President Wilson". He was injured in the last week of the war and it seemed impossible for him to reach his destination. Though he lost his foot, the message got through to save a large group of surrounded American infantrymen.

Cher Ami

Probably the most famous of all the carrier pigeons was one named Cher Ami, two French words meaning "Dear Friend". Cher Ami several months on the front lines during the Fall of 1918. He flew 12 important missions to deliver messages. Perhaps the most important was the message he carried on October 4, 1918.

Mr. Charles Whittlesey was a lawyer in New York, but when the United States called for soldiers to help France regain its freedom, Whittlesey joined the Army and went to Europe to help. He was made the commander of a battalion of soldiers in the 77th Infantry Division, known as "The Liberty Division" because most of the men came from New York and wore a bright blue patch on their shoulders that had on it the STATUE OF LIBERTY.

On October 3, 1918 Major Whittlesey and more than 500 men were trapped in a small depression on the side of the hill. Surrounded by enemy soldiers, many were killed and wounded in the first day. By the second day only a little more than 200 men were still alive or unwounded.

Major Whittlesey sent out several pigeons to tell his commanders where he was, and how bad the trap was. The next afternoon he had only one pigeon left, Cher Ami.

During the afternoon the American Artillery tried to send some protection by firing hundreds of big artillery rounds into the ravine where the Germans surrounded Major Whittlesey and his men. Unfortunately, the American commanders didn't know exactly where the American soldiers were, and started dropping the big shells right on top of them. It was a horrible situation that might have resulted in Major Whittlesey and all his men getting killed--by their own army.

Major Whittlesey called for his last pigeon, Cher Ami. He wrote a quick and simple note, telling the men who directed the artillery guns where the Americans were located and asking them to stop. The note that was put in the canister on Cher Ami's left leg simply said:

"We are along the road parallel to 276.4.
"Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us.
"For heaven's sake, stop it."

As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw him rising out of the brush and opened fire. For several minutes, bullets zipped through the air all around him. For a minute it looked like the little pigeon was going to fall, that he wasn't going to make it. The doomed American infantrymen were crushed, their last home was plummeting to earth against a very heavy attack from German bullets.

Somehow Cher Ami managed to spread his wings and start climbing again, higher and higher beyond the range of the enemy guns. The little bird flew 25 miles in only 25 minutes to deliver his message. The shelling stopped, and more than 200 American lives were saved...all because the little bird would never quit trying.

On his last mission, Cher Ami was badly wounded. When he finally reached his coop, he could fly no longer, and the soldier that answered the sound of the bell found the little bird laying on his back, covered in blood. He had been blinded in one eye, and a bullet had hit his breastbone, making a hole the size of a quarter. From that awful hole, hanging by just a few tendons, was the almost severed leg of the brave little bird. Attached to that leg was a silver canister, with the all-important message. Once again, Cher Ami wouldn't quit until he had finished his job.

Cher Ami became the hero of the 77th Infantry Division, and the medics worked long and hard to patch him up. When the French soldiers that the Americans were fighting to help learned they story of Cher Ami's bravery and determination, they gave him one of their own country's great honors. Cher Ami, the brave carrier pigeon was presented a medal called the French Croix de guerre with a palm leaf.



Though the dedicated medics saved Cher Ami's life, they couldn't save his leg. The men of the Division were careful to take care of the little bird that had saved 200 of their friends, and even carved a small wooden leg for him. When Cher Ami was well enough to travel, the little one-legged hero was put on a boat to the United States. The commander of all of the United States Army, the great General John J. Pershing, personally saw Cher Ami off as he departed France.

Back in the United States the story of Cher Ami was told again and again. The little bird was in the newspapers, magazines, and it seemed that everyone knew his name. He became one of the most famous heroes of World War I. Years after the war a man named Harry Webb Farrington decided to put together a book of poems and short stories about the men and heroes of World War I.



G.I. Joe (March 24, 1943 in Algiers - June 3, 1961 in Detroit) is possibly one of the most famous pigeons in world history, serving much of its life in the United States Army Pigeon Service as one of over 54,000 pigeons in the force.

In World War II, G.I. Joe saved the lives of the inhabitants of the village of Calvi Vecchia, Italy, and of the British troops stationed there. The village was scheduled to be bombarded by the Allied forces on 18 October 1943, but the message that the British had captured the village, delivered by G.I. Joe, arrived just in time to avoid the bombing. Over a thousand people were saved.

In November 1946, G.I. Joe was presented with a high award, the Dickin Medal for gallantry.




A complete list of pigeons awarded
"THE DICKEN MEDAL"



NEHU.40.NS.1 - Blue Cheq. Hen "Winkie"
MEPS.43.1263 - Red Cheq. Cock "George"
SURP.41.L.3089 - White Hen "White Vision"
NPS.41.NS.4230 - "Beachbomber"
NPS.42.31066 - Grizzle Cock "Gustav"
NPS.43.94451 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Paddy"
NURP.36.JH.190 - Dark Cheq. Hen "Kenley Lass"
NURP.38.EGU.242 - Red Cheq. Cock "Commando"
NPS.42.NS.44802 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Flying Dutchman"
NURP.40.GVIS.453- Blue Cock "Royal Blue"
NURP.41.A.2164 - "Dutch Coast"
NPS.41.NS.2862 - Blue Cock "Navy Blue"
NPS.42.NS.15125 - Mealy Cock "William of Orange"
NPS.43.29018 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Ruhr Express"
NPS.42.21610 - B.C. Hen "Scotch Lass"
NU.41.HQ.4373 - Blue Cock "Billy"
NURP.39.NRS.144 - Red Cock "Cologne"
NPS.42.36392 - "Maquis"
NPS.42.NS.7542 -
41.BA.2793 - "Broad Arrow"
NURP.39.SDS.39 - "All Alone"
NURP.37.CEN.335 - "Mercury"
NURP.38.BPC.6 -
DD.43.T.139 -
DDD.43.Q.879 -
NURP.41.SBC.219 - Cock "Duke of Normandy"
NURP.43.CC.2418 - B.C. Hen
NURP.40.WLE.249 - "Mary"
NURP.41.DHZ.56 - "Tommy"
42.WD.593 - "Princess"
USA.43.SC.6390 - "G.I. Joe"





Military Pigeon SoldierPIGEONS IN MILITARY

In ancient times pigeons were the fastest way to send messages. There are writings that report that the Persian King Cyrus used birds to send information, and the Greeks used homing pigeons to send news of Olympic victories. During the eighth century in France, only the nobles had homing pigeons and the birds were considered a symbol of power and prestige, until the French revolution changed things so that the common man could have them. Even Julius Caesar used homing pigeons to carry messages of importance.



In 1870 the Franco-Prussian war broke out and Paris was surrounded and cut off. The people in Paris figured out they could use hot air balloons to carry baskets of homing pigeons and other letters out of the city and the friendly French in the countryside could send messages back into Paris via the homing pigeons. This allowed the trapped people of Paris to communicate and maintain their hope and morale during the war. It was about this time that microphotography was developed in England, but used to great effect in this war to exchange many military instructions quickly via homing pigeon. The microphotography allowed a pigeon to carry as many as 30,000 messages to be carried by a single bird! The four month siege of Paris saw 400 birds deliver nearly 115,000 government messages and about a million private messages according to historians.



Military PigeonBy 1914 when the war to end all wars (WWI) broke out the European armies were widely using homing pigeons in their war communications. United States General John Pershing saw the birds in use and ordered the Army Signal Corp to begin putting together their own pigeon communication system. It is believed that over half a million birds were used by the warring armies as reliable communication. These special birds had a 95 percent success rate in WWI delivering their messages and proved to be a lifeline for the troops on the front line. Remember this war was before modern radio and the telegraph was the other more-modern option for communicating. But this wire based system was easily cut in two or tapped into by enemy forces if given the chance. Others used the homing pigeon like aircraft pilots on recon missions, sailors off the coast, and even tanks on the move. WWI was the height of homing pigeon used for military purposes. There were many pigeon heroes and several of these war birds received medals.



One of the most famous WWI pigeon stories to be told is that of the ”lost battalion” in France that was saved by a pigeon named Cher Ami. This 600 man battalion was being shelled and wounded by friendly fire because they advanced too far into enemy territory. Their only hope of communication was by bird and Cher Ami gave it his all. The German soldiers saw the bird take flight and began firing upon the bird wounding it but not enough to take away its will to fly the 25 miles back to the command post. It arrived with one eye shot out, a bullet in its breast and most of the leg missing that had the message capsule still attached – hanging on only by a tendon. The message stopped the shelling and the battalion was later saved. After healing, Cher Ami went on to receive an honorary service cross and taken back to America and lived until 1919. Later he was mounted and then placed on display in the Smithsonian Institute.



When WWII broke out in the early 40’s the homing pigeon was brought back into service on both sides of the war. Many people do not realize that the head of the SS, Hemlic Hemmler, was also head of the national pigeon organization at one time and felt that the Nazis would benefit by taking over the national pigeon organization and the use of its members and birds. The Germans had 50,000 birds ready for use when the war had broken out. Unfortunately for America, the US Army Signal Corp did not maintain its pigeon program and to rebuild it from scratch. The Corp solicited birds from fanciers that were willing to donate them, and looked for new draftees that had a poultry or pigeon background to work as pigeoneers.



Although the radio was developed at this time to carry voice, whereas Morse code was used in WWI, the homing pigeon was sometimes an excellent choice for communicating while maintaining radio silence. As one might expect radio direction finders were used by both sides to locate and try taking out each other’s forces. The homing pigeon was also found to be a capable airborne means flying a camera over enemy locations to learn more about troop strength and location. A camera was mounted underneath the pigeon behind enemy lines and allowed to fly home where the camera was examined. These photos might show actual troops and equipment or if flying over a German town might show certain type factories or other military targets for bombing.



Spies on both sides used pigeons to carry information and sometimes the birds were asked to fly the English Channel between Great Britain and France. The English and the Germans developed their own falcon program to intercept birds but they were just as likely to intercept one of their birds and stop the intended communication from ever arriving.



WWII came to an end and in 1956 the US Army shut down the Pigeon Corp. The service of the homing pigeon went dormant until the 1970’s when the US Coast Guard started using them again but in a different way. During the 1940’s pigeons in a Tufts University lab had proven the exceptional ability to pick out certain shapes and colors in exchange for food. The US Coast Guard decided the same abilities could be useful while searching for men and equipment in open waters so they set up some testing using a small observation bubble on the bottom of some their helicopters stationed near San Francisco. This project called Project Sea Hunt used three pigeons that faced 120 degrees from each other so that they covered the entire 360 degrees under the helicopter. The pigeons were 92 percent reliable in finding the test subjects or objects where humans were found to be in the 30-40 percent range. The project never got out of the testing phase and was ended in 1983 due to federal budget cuts so the birds did not get a chance to actually save any lives.



(Excerpts taken from the History Channels production called Animals in Action, and Jerome Pratt’s book titled Courageous Couriers.)






Gimpy
Monday, Feb. 24, 1941


From the day he got his feathers Gimpy was a superior bird. Master Sgt. Clifford Algy Poutre, the lean, leathery boss pigeon man at the Signal Corps pigeon lofts on the Jersey flats at Fort Monmouth, liked to say that the Army would hear from Gimpy some day. His breed was right. His father, old red Kaiser, captured in a German trench in the Argonne, is still the oldest military pigeon in the business (24 last month), and his Scotland-hatched mother had good blood in her.
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Since Sgt. Poutre gave Gimpy the job of instructing younger pigeons last fall, he has turned out 150 graduates, trained to fly back to the trailer lofts as straight as a crow. Taken farther and farther away each day from Monmouth, he led them back unerringly to the loft, showed them that a pigeon can fly with a message capsule on leg or back. Last week, on his twisted right leg, three-year-old Gimpy stumped among a new class of 52 youngsters, fixed them with a hard eye.

Gimpy got the game leg that named him before he was two years old. One wintry day he was released in Trenton, got lost in a snowstorm, went over Brooklyn just over the housetops, finally ran out of ceiling. He cracked up in a backyard and broke his leg. Set by a man named Somervell (who had pigeons of his own), Gimpy's leg turned out badly, but within two months he was back on the job with a name instead of a number. Last spring Gimpy worked in the maneuvers in Louisiana, lost three of his 17 ounces in the fierce heat, but always came in with the tissue-paper message that front-line men had put in his capsule. And in the fall, when the Signal Corps started breeding and training 3,600 new birds, Gimpy was promoted to an instructor's job.

Among the 1,000 Army pigeons in the Fort Monmouth lofts, Gimpy is as monogamous as the next old soldier. His mate is a three-year-old hen named Matilda. He ran her out of his nest four times before they settled down. Today, like any suburban pigeon, he sits on the eggs six hours a day while Matilda gets a rest.

Gimpy's only fault is that he likes to land on the way home, sometimes leads his recruits into a grassy plot for a rest and stroll, while he stumps around, gabbling officiously. But no one in Fort Monmouth's pigeon company will admit that these fine feathered soldiers ever hitch rides on Army trucks.*

-As Major Leonard Nason charged last fortnight in a denunciatory book, Approach to Battle. "Dependence on pigeons as a means of signal communication," said he "is leaning on a broken reed." Week the book was published, Major Nason was ordered to active service.

whats up cant you read lol only jokeing

My two daughters are going to be doing a big talk on the 9th of may this year on pigeons of war its a big celebration for us over here in Guernsey as this is the date that we were liberated from the Germans 65 years ago so this will help them out alot for thier talk to hundereds of people any more info would be very appriciated

ok i see what i acn do all up for the talks on our birds

A feature documentary film written, directed and produced by Al Croseri

Starring Colonel Clifford A. Poutre, Chief Pigeoneer, U. S. Army Signal Corps Pigeon Service

Filmed on location in Greensboro, North Carolina

122 minutes duration

"This is quite an extraordinary film. It not only tells the story of Col. Clifford Poutre but it contains voluminous old film clips of homing
pigeons in war. For these reasons alone, this is an important film. The late Col. Poutre was obviously a charming man with a deep love
of pigeons. He makes the case that this kind of affection is essential for really outstanding performance from your birds. As he tells his
life story interwoven with pictures of the Army pigeon corps it makes a compelling documentary. In addition, he tells of a variety of
interesting experiments that he performed. I think particularly of the idea of a mobile pigeon loft that could be moved from place to place,
the training of pigeons to fly at night in both Hawaii and New York City and the problems that New York City lights caused. He describes
training pigeons to fly over water for 100 to 200 miles and how his pigeons avoided flying over mountains. He describes the behavior of
pigeons released from high buildings homing to a mobile loft at Rockefeller Center and how they simply folded their wings and dove for
the loft....The account of Poutre's visit to Tesla and the pigeons kept in a bedroom of the Hotel New Yorker is priceless. One can only
imagine the cleaning maids reaction! Overall, this is a wonderful film. It gives us an unusual view of the Army pigeon corps, a warm
and delightful visit with Col. Poutre and a strong tribute to the Homing Pigeon." Dr. Charles Walcott, Professor, Department of
Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Dr. Walcott is a renowned homing pigeon navigation expert.

"THE PIGEONEERS" AND "THE FLIGHT" RECOMMENDED BY CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY'S

PROJECT PIGEON WATCH

[The Pigeoneers]

"The Pigeoneers is a love story between man and bird. After viewing Alessandro Croseri's sentimental documentary, there can be no doubt
that Col. Clifford A. Poutre loved the many pigeons that he bred and trained for carrier service in WWII. By both word and deed, Col. Poutre
treated his pigeons as though they were human family members, children, buddies. He believed in control through kindness. He saw pigeons as
intelligent beings which would fly better if they trusted him. He accorded his birds real respect and even reverence. He reveled in their racing and
military achievements and he mourned their loss in warfare and culling.... Do the notions of courage and loyalty aptly apply to pigeons? I can't say.
True, Col. Poutre's birds flew hundreds of miles in dreadful weather conditions and they were the targets of intense enemy fire. But, they may have
done so because of the extensive training that he gave them. Nor can we say that Col. Poutre's pigeons truly loved him. Nevertheless, I watched
Col. Poutre's tearful eyes, I listened to his tender words, and I watched him as he gently caressed and stroked his birds. If I were a pigeon, then I
would surely have loved this man." Dr. Edward A. Wasserman, Stuit Professor of Experimental Psychology, Delta Center, University of Iowa, Iowa.

"I am an experimental psychologist in animal learning. While I work with many species, pigeons are my creatures of first choice. Remarkable
animals they are. They can sense magnetic north, use the sun as a compass, and even smell their lofts at a distance. But these facts are known to
all pigeon fanciers. Perhaps less known but no less true are these facts: pigeons can discriminate man-made from non-man-made objects, classify
items as water whether that item be the ocean, a raindrop or an ice cube, and distinguish between the works of Mozart and Bach, or Picasso and
Cezanne...Last night I watched The Pigeoneers with my wife, an historian. She referred to the footage as "a primary historical document" because
it codifies a rare and forgotten history-- that of the use of pigeons during warfare. Remarkablely, the tale is told by a 103-year-old colonel dressed
to the nines in military regalia. He's the real deal because he was the "go to" guy in developing pigeons as instruments of war. The story is warm,
interesting and, of course, historical. This movie is surely of interest to pigeon fanciers, military historians, or just to those who find listening to
a fascinating tale a good way to pass the afternoon." Dr. Alan Silberberg, Professor of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC.

"Towards the end of his reminiscences, the 103-year-old narrator of Al Croseri's new documentary grows wistful as he reflects on the need to cull
the homing pigeon flocks that were for decades at the center of his life. You can't keep the losers, he says, or the winners will suffer. Croseri's film,
a lengthy and detailed monologue by the last surviving "pigeoneer," faces a similar problem-but one that can't be solved. For, simply put, there are
no losers among the anecdotes and images compiled by the director of the splendid The Flight." Dr. Rick Wright, Managing Director of "Wings,"
Former Editor of "Winging It," an American Birding Association publication.

"Alessandro (Al) Croseri, who was kind enough to bring the exploits of these special birds to my attention, has captured their story in his
8-minute DVD film The Flight, a beautiful and moving homage to the sacrifices that these homing pigeons made for us in the wars. Croseri
also wrote and produced a longer film The Pigeoneers, featuring Poutre. Next time you scowl at a pigeon in the streets, think about how these
birds helped saved thousands of soldier's lives during war." Dr. David Bird, Professor of Wildlife Biology and Director of the Avian Science
and Conservation Centre, McGill University, Canada. Excerpt-"Fine, feathered war heros", The Gazette, Montreal, Canada.

"I have just finished viewing The Pigeoneers by Alessandro Croseri Productions for the third time. Col. Clifford A. Poutre, at 103 years of age,
makes an interesting presentation going back to his youth when first assigned, as a private, to the Army Signal Corps Pigeon Service in 1929.
They interviewed Poutre just in time as he passed away a short time thereafter....As I watched I visualized Poutre in the 1930s, the years between
the wars, spending 8 to 12 hours a day with the pigeons, at Army expense. He would have been pondering new ways for the military to use the
pigeons, experimenting with the two-way flying and night flying. Also thinking up public relations projects to do with the pigeons. My memory
flashes back to the spring of 1942. A group of us newly drafted soldiers arrived at Ft. Monmouth, NJ, selected because of our hobby to be in the
Pigeon Service. Master Sergeant Poutre was top man by then. He had done a good job of establishing the pigeon school which we were to attend
for three months." Elwin F. Anderson, WWII U. S. Army Pigeoneer.

[The Pigeoneers]

"THE PIGEONEERS" FILM TRAILER, REVIEWS, PRESS AND MUSEUM COLLECTIONS Click Here.

TO PURCHASE "THE PIGEONEERS" FILM. Click Here.

THE FLIGHT

LETTER FROM THE HONORABLE MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY

"The Flight--a lovely tribute to the often-overlooked winged heroes of conflicts past."

CLICK HERE FOR MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S LETTER

[The Flight]

"Alessandro Croseri's moving Flight is a brief video homage to one aspect of that cultural history, the role that Rock Pigeons have played in
war. Combining historic stills with beautiful images of pigeons flying free over New York City, The Flight reminds us that homing pigeons,
by carrying messages and even taking photographs with cameras strapped to their iridescent-feathered necks, saved lives and won battles in
the First and Second World Wars. The film does without narration, relying on a somber but appealing sound track and the juxtaposition of
images to carry its message. Particularly memorable is the morphing of pigeon wingbeats into artillery fire, and the visual fade of a flock of birds
into a squadron of bombers. Such images might suggest that Rock Pigeons in combat were nothing more than another weapon. But Croseri
includes other, equally remarkable images showing the birds and their relationship to their human handlers. Pigeons are cradled and caressed
before being sent into harm's way, and their sacrifices are commemorated both photographically and taxidermically. In one of the film's more
bizarre shots, captured "enemy" pigeons are paraded through town in cages, simultaneously spoils of war and prisoners. Al Croseri is to be
congratulated on an effective and moving piece of film-making, and anyone interested in birds and their place in human history is encouraged
to watch this film. It will change the way you think about pigeons." Dr. Rick Wright, Managing Director of "Wings," Former Editor of
"Winging It," an American Birding Association publication.

"Homing pigeons have an uncanny ability to find their way back to their loft over great distances and from places they have never been to before.
Because of this homing sense, pigeons have played an important role throughout human history faithfully carrying messages during times of war
and peace...not many people are aware that an estimated tens of thousands of pigeons lost their lives and many more were wounded, when they were
drafted as vital means for communication and reconnaissance during World Wars I and II. Even during the Korean War, pigeons were used as a backup
despite the by then significantly advanced communications technology.... Alessandro Croseri's film "The Flight" is a beautiful and moving homage
to the sacrifices that homing pigeons made as "winged messengers" at times of war and surely will be greatly enjoyed by pigeon-fanciers,
war-historians, and laymen alike." Dr. Cordula Mora, researcher studying navigation and homing in animals, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

"This is demonstrably a moving and informative compilation, with a fascinating mixture of historic still photographs and
movie clips mixed in with your modern New York footage. I am pleased to confirm that The Flight will now be held in the
American Air Museum information support collection, and made available to interested researchers upon request."
Peter Murton, Research and Interpretation Officer, Imperial War Museum Duxford.

"From the moment I clicked the 'Start' button on the DVD player I was captivated by this astonishing and enthralling short film depicting facts,
not fiction, of homing pigeons and their exploits in World Wars 1 & 2. This is truly an educational film that should be made available to as many
people as possible of all ages, to enlighten them of the heroics that pigeons performed in two world wars, saving many human lives in the process."
Dennis Wall, writer, pigeon fancier, administrator and owner of "Independent Pigeon Race Results"(IPRR), UK's website.

"Technically, the producer Alessandro Croseri, completely succeeded in presenting us an emphatic film on homing pigeons that were used in
WWI and WW2 to deliver messages and 'spy' on enemy activity. The movie is a clever mix of historical photos and film shots of live pigeons and the
perfectly chosen background music and soundtracks make the film even more impressive. Even those who have no real interest in (homing) pigeons,
will be moved when seeing the birds, the camera's hanging on their breasts, bravely airborne in spite of the serious dangers facing them."
Nico Van Benten, pigeon fancier, publisher and chief editor of "Aviculture Europe," The Netherlands.

"THE FLIGHT" FILM REVIEWS, PRESS AND MUSEUM COLLECTIONS Click Here.

TO PURCHASE "THE FLIGHT" FILM. Click Here.

[Pilot Poster]

"THE FLIGHT" PREMIERE AT THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM

"Your documentary inspired me to talk with the Museum's Education and Events Coordinators.
We've decided to have a "Family Movie Night" under the stars in August. Our "Family" events are becoming very popular
and they are such a great way to educate while having family fun." Gayle Drews, Curator, Yankee Air Museum

YANKEE AIR MUSEUM
Where History Flies
Honoring Aviation History And It's Participants Through A Living, Flying Museum

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT UNDER THE STARS!
Friday August 14, 2009 - Starts at 7:30 pm.
Saturday August 15, 2009 - Rain Date.

I am honored to announce the premiere of "The Flight" at the Yankee Air Museum's First Family Movie Night Under The Stars in Michigan.
The Yankee Air Museum is home to "Thunder Over Michigan Air Show" where the world renowned U.S. Navy "Blue Angels" fly.

Old Sarge Harry Lucas Holding the famous G.I. Joe

Old Sarge Harry Lucas holding the famous G.I. Joe at the U.S. Army lofts at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

G.I. JOE's Dicken Medal citation reads,

"For prompt delivery of a message to XII Air Support Command,
thereby preventing the bombing of advanced elements 56th (London) Division."

[GI Joe Poster]

"G.I. JOE," a dark checker pied white flight cock, was hatched March 24, 1943, at the Pigeon Section in Algiers, Algeria, North Africa.
Later he was taken to the Tunisian front, then to Bizerte, and from there to the Italian front. To read G.I. Joe's story, please Click Here and scroll down.

A YANKEE AIR MUSEUM EDUCATION EVENT

The Flight At Hangar 2, Yankee Air Museum

"The Flight" premiere at Hangar 2, Yankee Air Museum, Willow Run Airport West, Michigan, USA.

“Dear Al, Thank you so much for your support and help in promoting our Movie Night. It was a successful evening.
Everyone, adults and children alike took a great deal away with them and all in all we were pleased."
Gayle Drews, Curator, Yankee Air Museum and Rachel Krumwiede, Education Coordinator, Yankee Air Museum Education.

Photographs by Bob Hassan, Yankee Air Museum

[Pigeons In Combat]

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PIGEONS IN COMBAT , associated trademarks and logos are trademarks of Alessandro Croseri Productions. The "Pigeons In Combat" symbol is a registered trademark of Alessandro Croseri Productions 2008. No part of PIGEONS IN COMBAT may be reproduced in any way, or by any means, without the prior written permission of Alessandro Croseri Productions.

I havent got time tonight to read all of this, but will tomorrow. Its great to hear these stories I will remember some of them and tell people. These are the sort of stories that makes pigeons special. Thanks