Today in History—March 23: The U.S. Military’s Pigeon Service Ends

March 23, 1957: What happened to the war hero pigeons?

Draft ads that ran during World War I might’ve read like this: Seeking service members to deliver messages on the front. Exposure to shelling and gunfire. Expected to travel long distances, risk serious injury. Must be comfortable flying at night and in extreme weather.

By the time the war was over, 10,000 spots had been filled.

By trained pigeons.

Called homing, carrier, or messenger pigeons, these birds are a type of domestic pigeon prized for their navigational abilities. They can find their way home over great distances thanks to special neurons.

By the late 19th century pigeon-keeping was a popular hobby, and militaries began experimenting with them as messengers. In 1878 the U.S. Army Signal Corps tested pigeon communiques in Dakota Territory; by the 1890s the U.S. Navy had taken over the effort. The birds’ official service stretched from the Spanish-American War in 1898 to the end of the Korean War in 1953.

Some birds traveled hundreds—or even thousands—of miles to deliver messages. They were especially valuable in World War I, when every message otherwise depended on the vulnerable physical connection of telegraph lines, which could be so easily cut or intercepted.

And lest you think “pigeoneers”—a real term—weren’t attached to their birds: One handler ignored orders and ran back into a burning building mid-bombing to rescue his flying messengers. (He succeeded in saving them.)

But after World War II, advances in communication technology made pigeons increasingly obsolete. In December 1956 the U.S. Army made it official: Pigeon service would end.

Fun Fact

Pigeons sold that day had their new owners’ addresses attached immediately—just in case they tried to fly back “home.”

The 15 birds that had seen combat were placed in zoos. Among them were decorated war heroes like G.I. Joe, whose 20-mile flight in 20 minutes prevented the friendly fire bombing of a British brigade, and Caesar, who flew 44 combat missions.

Then, on this March day in 1957, the remaining 1,018 pigeons were put up for sale at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. People traveled from all over the country to purchase them, with a line forming the night before. A 10-year-old boy and his father arrived at 2 am to be first through the doors. (Despite a limit of 10 pigeon pairs per person, nearly 200 pigeon fanciers left disappointed.)

At 11:43 am the final bird was sold, bringing to an end the feathered messenger era.