Posted on 03/27/2004 10:57:02 AM PST by NormsRevenge
LONDON, (AFP) -
A Royal Air Force pigeon who delivered the first news of Allied success from the Normandy beaches on D-Day is to be recognised as the greatest pigeon to have served his country.
Gustav, a grizzle cock pigeon, known to the Air Ministry as codename NPS.42.31066, will be honoured in a special London exhibition at the Imperial War Museum's 60th anniversary show.
During his mission, Gustav was reportedly buffeted by a headwind of up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometres per hour) and his view of the Sun -- his primary means of navigation -- was obscured by heavy cloud.
Undaunted, the pigeon delivered his message over 150 miles in five hours and 16 minutes from Normandy to Thorney Island, near Portsmouth on England's south coast.
The message read: "We are just 20 miles or so off the beaches. First assault troops landed 0750. Signal says no interference from enemy gunfire on beach ... Steaming steadily in formation. Lightnings, Typhoons, Fortresses crossing since 0545. No enemy aircraft seen."
Gustav's feat earned him the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of Britain's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross.
Despite dodging gunfire and foul weather during the war, Gustav found peacetime more perilous and met an end when his breeder stepped on him while mucking out his loft.
 Pigeons puff up against the cold at London's Trafalgar Square. A Royal Air Force pigeon who delivered the first news of Allied success from the Normandy beaches on D-Day is to be recognised as the greatest pigeon to have served his country(AFP/File/Sinead Lynch) |
And plucky little Gustav still made it.:)
"Cher Ami" was a registered Black Check Cock carrier pigeon, one of 600 birds owned and flown by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I.
He delivered 12 important messages within the American sector at Verdun, France. On his last mission, "Cher Ami," shot through the breast by enemy fire, managed to return to his loft. A message capsule was found dangling from the ligaments of one of his legs that also had been shattered by enemy fire. The message he carried was from Major Whittlesey's "Lost Battalion" of the 77th Infantry Division that had been isolated from other American forces. Just a few hours after the message was received, 194 survivors of the battalion were safe behind American lines .
"Cher Ami" was awarded the French "Croix de Guerre" with Palm for his heroic service between the forts of Verdun. He died in 1919 as a result of his battle wounds. "Cher Ami" was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931 and received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of his extraordinary service during World War I.
"Cher Ami" is on display at the National Museum of American History, Behring Center, in the Armed Forces History Hall.
I know what you're thinking, but keep in mind, this is a war hero. Poop on some other pigeon's statue.
 Standing at attention : A pigeon looks for some food in front of the soldiers of the Austrian guard of honour who were lined up near Stefan's Dome Catholic Church during the funeral of the eldest Austrian Cardinal Dr. Franz Koenig. (AFP/Joe Klamar) |
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