PIGEONS IN WAR ~ MILITARY SERVICE

This page is devoted to pigeons in military service. You'll find books and vintage magazines.

 

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Updated:  November 27, 2023

PIGEONS IN WARTIME, Special issue of the Purebred Pigeon Magazine. July/Aug 2020. New. Fantastic coverage of this topic. Question: Why didn't anyone think to do this topic before. Sold out by the publisher. Demand exceeded expectations. If you want to research Pigeons in War, this is a wonderful resource............$30.00

OPERATION COLUMBA: The Secret Pigeon Service by Gordon Corera, 2018, hard cover w/ dust jacket, 334 pages, b/w illustrations, 9.25 by 6.25  inches, this is a new book...Outstanding.....  Copy #1..............................................$25.00

 

OPERATION COLUMBA: The Secret Pigeon Service by Gordon Corera, 2018, hard cover w/ dust jacket, 334 pages, b/w illustrations, 9.25 by 6.25  inches, this is a new book...Outstanding.....  Copy #2..............................................$25.00

OPERATION COLUMBA: The Secret Pigeon Service by Gordon Corera, 2018, soft cover, 326 pages, b/w illustrations, 9.25 by 6.25  inches, this is a new book...Outstanding..... Copy #1.........Soft cover.....................................$20.00

THE PIGEON WARS OF DAMASCUS by Marius Kociejowski, 2010 First Edition, hard cover w/ dust jacket, few b/w photos, 8.5 by 5.5 inches, fascinating look at the current war in Syria and the devotion of the pigeon fanciers to their birds and sport, this is a new book.....................$25.00

THE PIGEON WARS OF DAMASCUS by Marius Kociejowski, 2010 First Edition, soft cover, few b/w photos, 8.5 by 5.5 inches, fascinating look at the current war in Syria and the devotion of the pigeon fanciers to their birds and sport, this is a new book..................................$18.00

THE PIGEONS THAT WENT TO WAR by Gordon H. Hayes. 1981 hard cover w/ dust jacket. Limited First Edition, About The Pigeons and Pigeoneers in Africa and Italy during World War II, 146 pages, great b/w illustrations,  9.25 by 6.25 inches,  added are 100 b/w photos that are associated with the book (photos are 5 by 3.5 inches)

During World War II, Hayes served in the "pigeon corps" of the U.S. Army, where his expertise with racing pigeons was recognized and he was placed in charge of a large group of new men with little experience in racing pigeons. The company started as the 829th Pigeon Platoon or the Africa Pigeon Corp. Later in South Italy, it was changed to the 6681st Signal Pigeon Co. (Prov). Lastly, the name was changed from the 6681st Signal Pigeon Co. to the 209th Signal Pigeon Co. 
Hayes's duties took him to the front lines of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy and France, where he worked closely with the U.S. and British intelligence services. Often in the dangerous front lines or in covert operations, he worked with such famous pigeons as "G.I. Joe," "Yank," "Rain in the Face," and many more. When the war ended in Europe, Hayes finished his duty in the service as a Master Sergeant. Continuing as a successful bird breeder, the epitome of his career was the breeding of an American dark green and cobalt Indian ring-necked parakeet. The first in the world; a new color mutation. In 1981, Hayes self-published his book, The Pigeons That Went To War about his experiences in the army's pigeon corps.

Book & 100+ photos, in excellent condition..........................$125.00 sold

THE PIGEONS THAT WENT TO WAR by Gordon H. Hayes. 1981 hard cover w/ dust jacket. Limited First Edition, About The Pigeons and Pigeoneers in Africa and Italy during World War II, 146 pages, great b/w illustrations,  9.25 by 6.25 inches, in excellent condition..............................$75.00   

 

THE PIGEONS THAT WENT TO WAR by Gordon H. Hayes. 1981 hard cover w/ dust jacket. Limited First Edition, About The Pigeons and Pigeoneers in Africa and Italy during World War II, 146 pages, great b/w illustrations,  9.25 by 6.25 inches, in excellent condition....COPY #2............$75.00  

BLETCHLEY PARK AND THE PIGEON SPIES by Bernard O'Connor, 2018, soft cover, 540 pages, b/w illustrations, 8.25 by 6 inches, Secret pigeon operations of the Second World War, details the British extensive use of 12,000 carrier pigeons used in war; fascinating, this book is new......................................Copy #2...$40.00

The SAGA OF THE AIR MAIL, Carroll Glines, Col, USAF, 1968 First Edition, hard cover w/dust jacket, 180 pages, 9.25 by 6,25 inches. The first chapter is The Pigeon Post, 17 pages with photos of pigeons in military service and mail carriers. book is in very good/excellent condition......$25.00 

THE FLYING TELEGRAPH by Joseph Spears, Lt Colonel, Signal Corps, US Army. April 1947 National Geographic Magazine. Feature article of 24 pages, w/ 23 b/w illustrations from Official US Army Signal Corps photographs, good/very good condition, excellent resource.......$30.00 sold

PIGEONS IN WORLD WAR II: The Official Records of the Performances of Racing Pigeons with the Armed Forces, edited by major W.H. Osman, 1950 First Edition, hard cover, 146 pages, great b/w photos, 7.25 by 4.875 inches, condition is good/very good........................$75.00 sold

PIGEONS IN TWO WORLD WARS, 1976, hard cover w/ dust jacket, illustrated, 195 pages, 8.75 by 5.75 inches, d/j has small fault, book condition is very good/excellent.........................$75.00  

They Had No Choice; RACING PIGEONS AT WAR, 2002, soft cover, illustrated, 288 pages, 9.75 by 6.75 inches, two corner has slight bumps otherwise condition very good/excellent.................$75.00

 

They Had No Choice; RACING PIGEONS AT WAR, 2002, soft cover, illustrated, 288 pages, 9.75 by 6.75 inches, condition is excellent...................COPY #2..............$80.00 

THE PIGEONEER; US ARMY TRAINING MANUAL, 1925 Reprint, Pertains to World War I, soft cover, 131 pages, 9 by 5.75 inches, collector paid $75.00 for this on Sept 7, 1998 (receipt included), condition is new......RARE....$100.00  sold

HOMING PIGEON/SIGNAL CORPS COLLECTION ~ WORLD WAR II. 

Collection includes:

1. The Homing Pigeon/War Dept Tech Manual, Jan 1945, soft cover, illustrated, 82 pages, 8.5 by 5.25 inches.

2. Signal Pigeon Company/War Dept Field Manual, Sept 1944, soft cover, illustrated, 31 pages.

3. US Army Issued Pigeon Accessories of WW II, phamplet

4. Booklet: Pigeon Communications, War Dept, 1944, 5 by 4 inches

5. Newsletter: Pigeon Droppings from WW II, 6 pages, 8.5 by 11 inches on US Army Pigeons, Threat of Nazi Pigeons and review of pigeons in Army service.

All five items in this collection are in excellent condition........................................$75.00 sold

COURAGEOUS COURIERS by Jerome Pratt, Lieutenant Colonel, USA, 1977 soft cover, illustrated, 136 pages, 9 by 6 inches, book is in very good condition....................................$75.00

 

Pigeon Heroes: Birds of War and Messengers of Peace. 2nd Printing.  Marion B. Cothren, 1944. New York: Coward McCann, Inc. hard cover, no dust jacket, 47 pages. 22 illust.  fantastic wartime photos, Rare book, hardcover, gift dedication on title page,  very good+ condition...........$80.00....now $60.00

 

Pigeon Heroes: Birds of War and Messaengers of Peace. First Edition.  Marion B. Cothren, 1944. New York: Coward McCann, Inc. hard cover, no dust jacket, 47 pages. 22 illust.  Rare book, hardcover, x-library book, average/fair condition.................$25.00 sold

THE PIGEON POST INTO PARIS 1870-1871 by J.D. Hayhurst, 1970, Franco-Prussian War, soft cover, b/w illustrations, 45 pages, 8.5 by 5.5 inches, in very good/excellent condition.............$30.00

CHANCO: A U.S. ARMY HOMING PIGEON by Helen Orr Watson, 1938 First Edition, hard cover w/ dust jacket, illustrated, 163 pages, 9.5 by 6.5 inches, condition is very good.......$75.00 sold

CHANCO: A U.S. ARMY HOMING PIGEON by Helen Orr Watson, 1938 First Edition, hard cover w/o dust jacket, illustrated, 163 pages, 9.5 by 6.5 inches, condition is very good....COPY#2...$75.00 sold

CHERI AMI: THE STORY OF A CARRIER PIGEONS by Marion B. Cothren, 1939, hard cover, aimed at youth readers, 84 pages, 7.75 by 5 inches, book is very good condition. Lost Battalion, a hero of the World War, immortalized in the National Museum in Washington. A straightforward account of his early training in an English loft, and of the life with the American Expeditionary forces, where he won international fame.................$60.00 sold 

ANIMALS IN WAR by Jilly Cooper, 2000 (first published in 1983), UK Published,  soft cover, 222 pages, 7.75 by 5 inches.  HOMER SWEET HOMER, 17 page chapter on pigeons in war, with b/w photos.  this book is in new condition..UK...$25.00

ANIMALS IN WAR by Jilly Cooper, 2000 (first published in 1983) USA Published, soft cover, 222 pages, 8.5  by 5.5 inches.  HOMER SWEET HOMER, 17 page chapter on pigeons in war, with b/w photos.  this book is in excellent condition..........Copy USA.............$25.00

AIRLIFT 1870: THE BALLOON AND PIGEON POST IN THE SIEGE OF PARIS by John Fisher, 1965 First Edition, hard cover, w/ dust jacket, illustrated, 166 pages, 8.875 by 5.75 inches, in very good condition.................Copy #1............$25.00

 

AIRLIFT 1870: THE BALLOON AND PIGEON POST IN THE SIEGE OF PARIS by John Fisher, 1965 First Edition, hard cover, w/ dust jacket, illustrated, 166 pages, 8.875 by 5.75 inches, in very good condition.................Copy #2.............$25.00

FEATHERED HEROES:PIGEONS FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD TO NOW, Walter Harter, 1968 First Edition, hard cover w/ dust jacket and plastic cover, 127 pages, 8.5 by 5.75 inches, x-library book in good condition.................................$25.00

 

FEATHERED HEROES:PIGEONS FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD TO NOW, Walter Harter, 1968 First Edition, hard cover w/ dust jacket, 127 pages, 8.5 by 5.75 inches, in very good + condition........Copy #2.......$30.00  sold

THE WAR ANIMALS: THE TRAINING AND USE OF ANIMALS AS WEAPONS OF WAR, Robert E. Lublow, 1977 First Edition, hard cover w/ dust jacket and platic cover, 255 pages, pages 1- 102 on pigeons, 8.5 by 5.75 inches, x-library, in average /good condition.......................$20.00  sold

PIGEON TO PACKHORSE: The Illustrated Story of Animals in Army Communications by Alan Harfield, 1989, hardcover w/o dust jacket, 114 pages, 8.5 by 6 inches, in excellent/new condition,  COPY #1........................................$20.00  

 

PIGEON TO PACKHORSE: The Illustrated Story of Animals in Army Communications by Alan Harfield, 1989, hardcover w/dust jacket, 114 pages, 8.5 by 6 inches, in very good condition,  COPY #2........................................................$20.00  

TECHNICAL MANUAL ~ THE HOMING PIGEON, War Department, 1936 soft cover, 72 pages, 8.5 by 5.5 inches, very good+ condition.....$25.00 sold