Pigeon Message

I stumbled across this 100 year old message while doing some research in the archives.

You may already be familiar with the story of the 'Lost Battalion' and the pigeon 'Cher Ami'. I heard it a long time ago but had long forgotten about it. If you are not familiar, you can get a quick read here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_Ami

I just watched a TV show called Mysteries at the Museum about a Carrier Pigeon named GI Joe in WWII an hour ago.
GI Joe received a medal. After his service he happily spent his last days at the Detroit Zoo.
After passing he is on display at a museum near IIRC Fort Monmouth, NJ.
GI Joe saved hundreds from friendly bombing. Had he been minutes later upon arriving the planes would have been in the air.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...oepigeon-1.jpg

Story Link: 18th October 1943: Carrier Pigeon wins medal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Joe_(pigeon)

Charlie-Painter777

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Originally Posted by painter777

I just watched a TV show called Mysteries at the Museum about a Carrier Pigeon named GI Joe in WWII an hour ago....

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Synchronicity?

I'm telling ya ! Had to be a meaningful coincidence..... :bow:
I grew up going to the Detroit zoo quite often, but not before the death of GI Joe in 1961.
Stars must be lined up just right.......
Seems spooky, at least we don't have to worry about China's falling space station Tiangong-1.
Hitting us !

Thx for your post,
Charlie-Painter777

Early WW1 photo of Canadian Pigeon Service about to depart to FranceAttachment 92701

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Originally Posted by painter777

I'm telling ya ! Had to be a meaningful coincidence..... :bow:
I grew up going to the Detroit zoo quite often, but not before the death of GI Joe in 1961.
Stars must be lined up just right.......
Seems spooky, at least we don't have to worry about China's falling space station Tiangong-1.
Hitting us !

Thx for your post,
Charlie-Painter777

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Thanks for the belly laugh.

More to think about..... the date of the GI Joe occurrence, 18 October 43 (didn't catch my eye until now) the date of the WW1 event - 4 October 18.

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Originally Posted by RCS

Early WW1 photo of Canadian Pigeon Service about to depart to FranceAttachment 92701

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Thanks for passing that along. It's fascinating how many disciplines were with us so recently that most aren't even aware of anymore.

Commando was a pigeon used in service with the British armed forces during the Second World War to carry crucial intelligence. The pigeon carried out more than ninety missions during the war, and received the Dickin Medal (the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross) for three particularly notable missions in 1942. The medal was later sold at an auction for £9,200.

Some interesting stories behind the award of the medal to animals worth a read on Wiki.

I am just thinking that the 308th "Lost Battalion" had to suffer that barrage for a further 1 hour & 19 minutes and given the scale of those events its a wonder they were not decimated to a man as by that time the graze fuse had been perfected with tree bursts a distinct possibility.
Which also causes the tree itself to be a minister of death as it sends out giant chunks of wood to do the business sorta reminds me of 26 years later the U.S GI's were on the receiving end of German artillery and mortars in the Hurtgen Forest which lasted from 19th September to 16th December 1944.

RAF bombers during WWII also carried carrier pigeons to release in the event they were shot down and/or crash landed.

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Originally Posted by Paul S.

RAF bombers during WWII also carried carrier pigeons to release in the event they were shot down and/or crash landed.

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Thanks, I didn't know that.
Here's a Winkie Link https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland...ntral-17138990