Untitled

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14658, 16 July 1918, Page 6

The various homing pigeon societies m New Zealand have been asked to supply homers to the British Government. An interesting account of the work done by these pigeons is given by a British naval °™ oer > *wo of which accompany him on all his trips as piJot of a seaplane. No matter what weather conditions prevail, m fog or storm, if necessity arises the pigeons are liberated and find their way to the home loft, where an electric bell gives warning of their arrival. The attendant immediately catches the bird and secures a. "flimsy," which is enclosed i.n a thin metal tube, and at once telephones the message to the naval authorities. If all goes well with the seaplane the pilot depends on his wirelesß to send messages; but should an accident occur and the seaplane drops to the water with a "dead" engine and wireless out of commission, then use is made of the feathered messenger. When the war is over the records will show that many of the naval airmen owe their lives to the pigeons which carried the "5.0.5." messages which brought speedy assistance to the boys m danger on the stormtossedi waters of the North Sea. and Enehsh Channel. 6