Trained Carrier Pigeons Are Reliable War Messengers (Jan, 1930)

Trained Carrier Pigeons Are Reliable War Messengers

Members of the signal patrol of the German army enjoy their work in training carrier pigeons. Careful training coupled with the natural instinct of these birds makes them reliable message carriers. In training they are set free at gradually increasing distances from home. Immediately upon release from their cages they will zoom into the air, instantly aware of the home direction and wing for home at the rate of 35 miles an hour. During the war pigeons were found to be invaluable for the transmission of messages from spies within enemy territory. Unauthorized possession of carrier pigeons in war time is a death warrant.