“One of the more unusual (but still fascinating) exhibitions at Bletchley Park is all about the role pigeons have played in the First and Second World Wars. Aircrews used them as rudimentary black boxes, writing their coordinates on a message and releasing the pigeon if they had to ditch or crash land.
There was also a cull of birds-of-prey all along the south coast during World War Two to ensure the pigeons could get back safely.”
via retronaut.co.uk (title, to quote Meg)
Nye's Grandpa worked at Bletchley Park, something to do with radios and code breaking. He didn't make the movie. Nobody knew he'd worked there until after he'd died. One day his wife was walking down the street and someone stopped her to ask after him. She told her that she had been very fond of him when they had worked together at Bletchley. That was the first anyone in the family knew of it. Grandpa was good at state secrets.
Awesome!!! I am currently transcribing my Uncle's letters from WWII in my Blog, so I just love picking up new details about the things that happened that we're just totally unaware of. Thanks for this!!
ReplyDeleteLetters can be found here,if you're interested! http://saveeverystep.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/joes-letters-home-wwii-punishing-schedules-high-jinx/
Where can I get another copy of the pigeon service manual? I've lost mine...
ReplyDeleteGrampas are full of secret wonder-tales.
1- Oh good, they made a little hole for air... !!! :-S
ReplyDelete2- When they were about to make an emergency landing, I'm sure finding and reading the Pigeon Service Manual was exactly what they were in the mood for. I picture them calmy wrapping the pigeon, you know, while whistling and making sure they did it well. :-)
"Grandpa was good at state secrets."
ReplyDeleteI love this.
Amazing. My dad has state secrets too, given his top secret work when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteWow. Grandma must have been VERY surprised to hear that from a stranger!
ReplyDeleteThat's an awesome story, I wish I could have met your grandfather :)
ReplyDeleteThat's absolutely fascinating. I got kind of obsessed with Bletchley Park when I worked in a hospital based right near there.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's looking good round these parts, lady.
My father claims to have a double life. Doubtful. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteThat is an absolutely incredible fact - I'll be repeating that one for ages! Marie-Eve made me laugh out loud imagining the Aircrews reading the manual and then calmly wrapping up the pigeon - and what a top man Grandpa must have been - brilliant!
ReplyDeletethat is amazing-what a well kept secret
ReplyDelete