Pigeons at War

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mi5-planned-to-use-remote-controlled-homing-1399501

            Technology has advanced communications on the battle field tremendously over time. James Castonguay acknowledged this in  his article Global Media, Communication Technology, and the War on Terror, “From the telegraph, radio, film, and television to the Internet and mobile satellite networks, media and communication technologies have been integral to the waging and representation of war.” Before satellites and radios, how did soldiers communicate with their base camp? Believe it or not, homing pigeons were a reliable and important tool in communication.

http://www.war44.com

       
          Homing pigeons are remarkable in the way they can return to their home loft. They can fly for long distances and periods of time. They are also quick birds, which made shooting them down very difficult. According to Pigeons In War, “Pigeons carried their messages either in special message containers on their legs or small pouches looped over their backs.” Soldiers carried the pigeons in baskets or portable lofts. During WWI over 100,000 pigeons were used for messaging and in WWII over 250,000. They were used because man-made communication technologies were still basic and not very reliable. Amazingly, the article Pigeons and World War One reports that these winged messengers reached their destination ninety five percent of the time.

http://www.pigeonsincombat.com/film.html

         These pigeons often saved lives and were given medals for their bravery and war efforts.  Americans at War tells the story of a pigeon named Cher Ami.  He delivered twelve important messages during his time and saved 194 lives his final flight. In October 1918 a group of American soldiers were trapped and being fired upon by German soldiers.  They had no working radios and needed help. Cher Ami was sent with a message pleading for help. He flew twenty five miles in twenty five minutes. During the flight he was shot in the chest and lost one of his legs. He still managed to reach his destination, saving the lives of the soldiers and received the French Croix de Guerre for his bravery. Cher Ami is number four on TIMES list of top 10 heroic animals.  
         
         These pigeons were remarkable animals. They were reliable and delivered messages very quickly. Also some pigeons, even when shot and injured, still got their message to the destination. Because of the extreme conditions, some of the pigeons deliveries were acknowledged with medals of valiantly.  While it seems like such a simple and rudimentary was to communicate they were actually dependable. Could you imagine sending an animal most people consider not very intelligent with life or death information into a war zone?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-02/pigeon-remains-reveal-coded-war-message/4349146