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.  

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.

 

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. 

Anti-espionage measures against pigeons, Belgium 1944

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

Catalog numbers WO208/3564 #001, WO208/3562 #015, #016

This is correspondence between J.L Kleyn, Captain, I.O. and Major Brian Melland, M.I. 14 (d) about restrictions on pigeons in 1944.

The enclosed report gives details on areas in which it was forbidden to keep pigeons and how 45,000 pigeons were evacuated from Belgian coastal towns.

D-Day--number of pigeons dropped to gather intelligence before D-Day, May 1944

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

Catalog number WO208/3556  #004

This report gives the numbers of pigeons dispatched in the month before D-Day as part of Operation Columba.  The British created Operation Columba to gather intelligence on the Germans in occupied France, Holland, and Belgium.  17,000 pigeons were dropped from British planes in baskets or boxes attached to small parachutes between 1941-45.   

The Imperial War Museum has interviews  with 2 men who flew on the pigeon drops. To hear Frank Griffiths on reel 2, click on this link: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80012005

To hear John Charrot on reel 2, click on this link:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80027123

Gestapo drop agents disguised as Allied parachutists

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

Catalog numbers WO208/3562 #06, WO208/3564 #35, #36, #37,  #38 

The intelligence about the Gestapo dropping agents disguised as Allied parachutists came in a message delivered by pigeon number 21670 from France on August 13, 1943.  The writer of this message also included intelligence on poison gas, munitions depots, troop movements, a radio listening in and guiding post for nightfighters, and comments about the content of BBC broadcasts.  The writer risked his life to send the message.  Under the German occupation, sending a message with a pigeon was a crime punishable by death.  You may need to scroll left right to read the message.

 

Himmler exercies considerable influence in German pigeon matters

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

Catalog numbers WO208/3556 #13, #14, #15, #16 #11, #12, #20, #21

This is correspondence between Flight Lieutenant R.M. Walker of the British War Office and Major B. Melland of M.I.14, the division of intelligence which oversaw the use of pigeons.  It includes a report titled “General Notes on Pigeons.”  There is a response to the report from J.L. Kleyn, Captain, I. O.

The report discusses the use of pigeons for espionage behind enemy lines, the 2 way pigeon service, Himmler’s role in pigeon operations, and ways of sending a message with pigeons to avoid detection.  You may need to scroll left-right on some of the documents.  They exceed the frame for ease of reading.