Impact

Carrier pigeons had a notable impact on many lives. “The rudimentary airplanes of the embattled countries used pigeons to provide updates midair. Launched mid-mission, the birds would fly back to their coops and update ground commanders on what the pilots had observed” (Kratz). The birds had to take off mid-flight and gave important updates that informed commanders about the condition of the battlefield and what enemies were doing in their trenches. “The birds’ most effective use was on the front line, as they were brought forward with their armies to help update commanders and planners in the rear” (Kratz). Pigeons were also used in the steam-ship business because the “uncertainty and delay with the arrival of ocean-bound steam-ships...needs a long range way of communication with the people at the port” (“A New Use For Carrier Pigeons”). Carrier pigeons were used in many fields of communication and had a very useful impact on people looking for a reliable way to communicate.

Image Credit: National Archives

Influence

The influence of carrier pigeons during war was significant. The carrier pigeon nicknamed “President Wilson was a military carrier pigeon, one of many in the U.S. Army Signal Corps that delivered messages between commanders and troops on the front lines” (McLauhglin). President Wilson was one of the most useful pigeons the United States Army had and influenced the use of thousands of more pigeons in war. “Wilson was dispatched to send a message that the unit needed artillery support. During the 25-mile journey, German soldiers spotted him and began firing into his flight path.Wilson was hit several times, losing a leg and suffering a wound to his chest, but he managed to deliver the message in a record 25 minutes. Surviving his wounds, Wilson was retired and sent to the U.S. Army Signal Corps Breeding and Training Center” (McLauhglin). Armies all around the world were influenced to recruit carrier pigeons after hearing many stories about courageous and successful flights by many carrier pigeons all over the world.

Image Credit: National Archives

Importance

Carrier pigeons were very important in war, as they “often beat aeroplanes and the wireless in carrying military dispatches” (Wicker). “They could cover an area of five thousand square miles in a day” (Wicker). “More than two hundred thousand homing pigeons were registered in Belgium alone” (Wicker). “The messages they carried were printed on large pieces of paper. Each pigeon could carry up to eight sheets totaling up to fifty thousand words” (Wicker). Pigeons were an important tool to help communicate during war.

Image Credit: National Archives