Saturday, November 21, 2015

WW2 pigeons complete "highly important task," 1940



(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK
Catalog numbers AIR2/4129 #245, #246, #247, #248

Above is the message delivered by the pigeons which is described as a “highly important task.”  Unfortunately not many details exist in this series of documents.  The pigeons were "specially trained" by R.W. Beard.  In what way?  For what operation?  What were the "important communications?"



Friday, November 20, 2015

British Intelligence Services 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 #184, #241, #242


Below is the minute sheet for the correspondence from November and December 1940  between W.D.L. Rayner, Squadron Leader,  Signals 1 (d) and Squadron Leader Sofiano at A.I. 1 ( c ).  A.I. 1 ( c ) was the Air Intelligence component of M.I.6, the Secret Intelligence Service.  Rayner advocated for having one person oversee the use of pigeons to collect intelligence by all branches of the Intelligence Services.  That person was F. Cruikshank, the pigeon expert appointed to M.I.5.
At the top is an Issue and Receipt Voucher from 1942 for some of the equipment needed to use the pigeons.



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.