Messenger Pigeons facts

While investigating facts about Messenger Pigeons Font and Passenger Pigeons Extinct, I found out little known, but curios details like:

In WWI a messenger pigeon, Cher Ami, saved an surrounded American battalion that was being shelled by friendly artillery. It carried a message through heavy fire that said "WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALELL 276.4. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT."

how messenger pigeons work?

At the Battle of Verdun a group of French soldiers, boxed in by German forces and without communications, was saved by a messenger dog. The dog, named Satan, managed to bring the soldiers two carrier pigeons, allowing them to send the Germans' position to French artillery.

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 17 of the best facts about Messenger Pigeons Ww1 and Messenger Pigeons Ww2 I managed to collect.

what are messenger pigeons?

1. A WWII messenger pigeon named GI Joe was awarded a bravery medal for "Making the 20 mile flight from British 10th Army HQ, in the same number of minutes ... just in time to save the lives of at least 100 Allied soldiers" 31 other pigeons have been awarded for bravery during service.

2. The first US aircraft carrier the USS Langley (CV-1) originally came equipped with a pigeon house for messenger pigeons.

3. A US Army messenger pigeon saved 194 men in World War I by carrying a message to allies even when shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and with a leg hanging off

4. Satan of Verdun, a messenger dog in World War 1 who carried messages and passenger pigeons, and despite being injured, helped turn the tide of the Battle of Verdun with encouragement from his handler as he was injured before both he and his handler died.

5. The first tanks that were built and deployed into war (WWI) were equipped with messenger pigeons. As radio would not start to take off for another 10 years this was the solution for the tank crew to communicate from within the vehicle.

6. The messenger pigeon Cher Ami saved her battalion from friendly fire shelling during WWI. Her message? "OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE STOP IT!"

7. Over 100,000 messenger pigeons were used in WWI with a success rate of 95% getting through to their destination with their message.

8. Messenger pigeons remember or mentally mark one location or "home" and the always fly back there. So to send a message via pigeon the sender must use the receiver's pigeon.

9. "Cher Ami", a messenger homing pigeon awarded the Croix de Guerre for saving the lives of 194 surrounded American soldiers. She was able to make it to HQ after having been "shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and had a leg hanging only by a tendon". Two pigeons before her had died.

10. About Cher Ami, a WWI messenger pigeon that received the French equivalent of the Medal of Honor, the Croix de Guerre

Why do messenger pigeons work?

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Messenger pigeons can fly at average speeds of up to 77.6 mph but have been recorded flying at 92.5 mph

During WWII, three war messenger pigeons were awarded the very first Dickin Medal for bravery. From 1943-1949 this medal was subsequently awarded to over 50 animals as recognition for their devotion to duty. - source

The first report of the WW2 D–Day landings received in the British mainland was delivered by Gustav, an RAF messenger pigeon.

China is training 10,000 messenger pigeons to carry secret military letters in order to avoid cyber-security leaks. - source