(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK
Catalog numbers WO208/3556 #51, #52, #53
This post includes Columba Summery #12 for the first 6 months of 1944.
Points in the summary:
Returns were low but considered critical during the pre-invasion period;
4424 pigeons were dropped by parachute;
Operation Columba provided the first intimation of “order of battle” news considered important to SHAEF regarding German troop movements;
5 reports gave the first news of military underground works;
Names of collaborators were sent to SHAEF, per their request;
After the invasion began the Germans offered big rewards for the capture of Allied pigeons;
In Denmark, pigeon owners were given the choice of killing their pigeons or turning them over to the Wehrmacht.
I would like to know how the "decoy pigeons" were used by the Germans and what was their (the decoys) effect on the Allied pigeons. Thanks! I'm enjoying the blog.
ReplyDeleteSasha
The Germans fitted their own pigeons with ID rings and message capsules which were the same as the British ID rings and message capsules. the Germans hoped people would attach messages to the pigeons who would then fly back to their German lofts. The British did the same: fitted their British pigeons with German ID rings and message capsules so as to intercept those messages. This use of decoy pigeons is explained in the 48 minute documentary "The War of the Birds" on youtube. The effect on the Allied pigeons? I wish we could ask a pigeon what it is like when a new pigeon joins their flock.
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