Pigeon!

This is coolbert:

To war by pigeon!

Winkie & Stott!

First thanks to the BBC and the article by C. Sleight:

"The pigeon that saved a World War II bomber crew"

Winkie the carrier pigeon as released by the crew of a downed English bomber aircraft during the Second World War [WW2], Winkie arriving "home" a sure indication of trouble, Bomber Command initiating a search, rescue successful!!

"Seventy years ago a carrier pigeon performed the act of "heroism" that saw it awarded the animal's equivalent of the Victoria Cross - the Dickin Medal."

"The pigeon was not carrying a message, but the RAF were able to calculate the position [approximate] of the downed aircraft using the time difference between the plane's ditching and the arrival of the bird - taking into account the wind direction and even the impact of the oil on Winkie's feathers to her flight speed." MEN SAVED!

And from the Daily Mail this amazing and most recent discovery. The little pigeon that could. Almost!

"Skeleton of hero World War II carrier pigeon found in chimney with a secret message still attached to its leg (and now Bletchley Park are trying to crack the code)"

Skeletal remains of a carrier pigeon from the era of WW2 found after many decades, CAPSULE CONTAINING SECRET MESSAGE STILL INTACT!

•"David Martin, 74, found the stricken bird when he opened the disused fire place while renovating his Surrey home"

•"It is thought the pigeon may have stopped on the chimney and become overcome with fumes"

"Experts say the red capsule Mr Martin found is the type used by the Special Operations Executive [SOE]." The recipient of the secret message however thought to be Bomber Command. Sergeant Stott who drafted the message his unit and mission perhaps that can be researched?

"The message was written by a Sergeant W Stott and contains columns of groups of five letters. It is thought that its intended recipient, ‘X02’, is code for Bomber Command."

That secret message the decryption as not yet accomplished. Thought to have a solution but that in dispute.

AOAKN HVPKD FNFJW YIDDC RQXSR DJHFP GOVFN MIAPX PABUZ WYYNP CMPNW HJRAH NLXKG MEMKK ONOIB AKELQ UAOTA RBQRH DJOFM TPZEH LKXGH RGGHT JRZCQ FNKTQ KLDTS GQIRU AOAKN.

The English eccentrics so do love the old ways! These stories also making for good copy, print and interest.

coolbert.