Tuesday, November 17, 2015

British agent and pigeons for operation in France, 1941


(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK
Catalog numbers AIR2/4129
#232, #233, #234, #235, #236, #238, #239, #240


The seven documents below were created in 1940 and 1941.  They are the notes and correspondence for procuring pigeons for five operations.  These pigeons were supplied by R.W. Beard, whose name appears on the list above.  The first four documents cover the operation in France.  The next one pertains to an operation in February 1941.  The next two are notes for two operations in March 1941.
 A.I. 1 ( c ) was the Air Intelligence component of M.I.6, the Secret Intelligence Service.
      February 1941


March 1941


Tuesday, November 10, 2015

British agent and use of pigeons in World War II


(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK
Catalog numbers AIR2/4129
#230, #231, #229, #228, #226, #227, #224, #225, #217, #216, #213

The documents below are notes and correspondence related to supplying pigeons to an agent for an operation to take place May 10, 1941. 

F. Cruikshank was the pigeon expert appointed to M.I.5.









Sunday, November 8, 2015

1944 Plans for Allied Pigeon Lofts in Europe


(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog numbers WO208/3564 #01
WO208/3556 #54, #55, #56

The documents below outline how lofts will be set up outside of Britain in late 1944.






Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Spy pigeons-British Combined intelligence Committee cites value of pigeon service


(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK
Catalog numbers WO208/3556 #72, #73, #74, #82, #83, #85

Captain Brian Melland of M.I.14 wrote this 2 page minute sheet dated July 2, 1941.  M.I.14 no longer exists.  During World War II it was the division of military intelligence which managed a secret pigeon service used to gather intelligence. 
This minutes sheet notes that the Combined Intelligence Committee considers the messages delivered by the pigeons as an important form of intelligence, as does the Air Ministry.  During this time these messages were one of the few sources of intelligence on German troop movements.
The third document cites interest in the pigeon service by D.D.M.I. (1).  The last three documents are message nineteen and the comments on the message alluded to in the minute sheet.




Saturday, October 31, 2015

1941 messages deliverd by pigeons from Holland


(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK
Catalog numbers WO208/3560 #25, #26, #27
You may need to scroll left-right to read the documents.
Between 1941-45 the British conducted Operation Columba. 17,000 pigeons were dropped in small boxes attached to small parachutes into occupied France, Holland, and Belgium.  The British hoped those who found the pigeons would send them back with intelligence about the Germans.  The pigeons had several advantages over human couriers.  A pigeon couldn’t be interrogated.  A pigeon could fly silently at night behind enemy lines.  A pigeon didn’t need fake documents to proceed through German checkpoints.  Perhaps most importantly, a pigeon flies about 40-50 miles per hour.  Top speed for a pigeon is 60 miles per hour.  The pigeons could deliver intelligence faster than people.
 Below are 2 messages.  Each message represents someone risking their life.  Sending a message with a pigeon was punishable by death under the German occupation.  






Monday, October 5, 2015

Operation Columba-Plans for Invasion of the Continent



(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK 
Catalog numbers WO206/3556 #57, #58, #59, #60, #61, #26, #27
This is Columba Summary #11 1943.  It covers plans for pigeons during the invasion of the continent.  When a bridgehead was established, training of pigeons would begin locally.  Mobile pigeon sections would each hold 720 pigeons.  The pigeons would be available for all requirements in the theatre of operations.  A reserve of 1400 pigeons would be held in Britain to replenish mobile pigeon section lofts.
Some other points in this summary:
Civilian loft owners were commended for their willingness to give their best pigeons to the Special Pigeon Service,
Improved cardboard containers to hold the pigeons when they were dropped by parachute into occupied Europe increased the number of pigeons who returned with messages,
Accuracy of dropping the pigeons was developed into a fine art by the special R.A.F. Squadrons,
Monthly output of pigeons dropped was increased from 500 to approximately 1000; these pigeons were needed to gather information on German anti-invasion preparations in the west.
Also included in this summary are statements on the value of the Special Pigeon Service by Jonathan Griffin, European Intelligence Director at the B.B.C., Air Intelligence, Major R.I. Dobson of S.O.E., and P.I.D.



Saturday, October 3, 2015

D-Day-1944 Report on Allied Use of Pigeons to Gather Intelligence Before invasion



(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.