ANIMALS IN WAR 1939-1945 - Carrier pigeons were supplied to aircraft of the Royal Air Force as a means of tracing those which went missing. 'Winkie' was the first pigeon to be responsible for the rescue of airmen during the Second World War when she flew 120 miles to alert rescue services that a Beaufighter had crashed in the North Sea on 23 February 1943. 'Winkie' is shown with the rescued crew. Winkie the pigeon was awarded the Dickin medal for helping in the recovery of these airmen, when she flew over 120 miles to alert rescue services that their Beaufighter had crashed in the North Sea in
ANIMALS IN WAR 1939-1945 - Carrier pigeons were supplied to aircraft of the Royal Air Force as a means of tracing those which went missing. 'Winkie' was the first pigeon to be responsible for the rescue of airmen during the Second World War when she flew 120 miles to alert rescue services that a Beaufighter had crashed in the North Sea on 23 February 1943. 'Winkie' is shown with the rescued crew. Winkie the pigeon was awarded the Dickin medal for helping in the recovery of these airmen, when she flew over 120 miles to alert rescue services that their Beaufighter had crashed in the North Sea in February 1943. Photograph shows the crew of Beaufort L9965, 42 Squadron. Left to Right: (back) Pilot Officer (Navigator) J E McDonald, Flight Sergeant (air gunner) Venn, Flying Officer Tessier, (front) 'Winkie' the pigeon (RAF number NEHU 40 NSL), Squadron Leader W Hedley Cliff. The aircraft had crashed into the sea on 23 February 1942 after being separated from another five Beauforts sweeping against enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast. Squadron Leader Cliff and his crew had two weeks earlier led No. 42 Squadron's attack on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. 'Winkie' had been thrown clear in the crash and flew miles back to her loft. , Pigeon, Winkie the, Royal Air Force
Size: 2532px × 1973px
Photo credit: © piemags/ww2archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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