PIGEONS AND AEROPLANE ACCIDENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 84, 5 October 1940, Page 10

PIGEONS AND AEROPLANE ACCIDENTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir—The present sad case of young New Zealand airmen being lost recalls to my mind an article which appeared S ™our paper recently headed "Pigeon Service-S.O.S. from Water"-which described the valuable services-for which the Imperial Government is indebted to homing. pigeons and their owners, for both war and home defence purposes. As soon as war broke out tens of thousands of pigeons went on active service with the R.A.F. All land planes flying over the sea and many flying-boat as well carry at part _of their regular complement two homing pigeons in a basket. In the event of a forced descent the birds may be released to fly back with an S.O.S. The birds go on the duty with a standardised S.O.S. already attached to a bluetinted carrier clipped to one leg. On the carrier there is a white painted patch which acts as a last-minute writing pad. A map reference or bearing is scratched on the white patch just before the bird is released. This is a quick and most effective method for airmen to get a message of distress to the nearest source of assistance, and if the lads can be quickly located much suffering and perhaps death is avoided. The racing pigeon fanciers of New Zealand have several times offered the services of well-trained birds from all parts of New- Zealand to the Government for such services, but so far we have not received a great deal of encouragement. If the Air Force of New Zealand followed the example of England and provided each plane with two homing pigeons many lives might be saved in the future. We have offered the services of our birds free. — I am, etc.,

J. A. BOCK, Hon. Secretary, N.Z. Homing Pigeon Federation,