THE PIGEONEERS ™

2012 - USA - English - 111 minutes - Alessandro Croseri Productions LLC
Directed by: Alessandro Croseri
Featuring: Col. Clifford A. Poutre, Chief Pigeoneer US Army Signal Corps, 1936-1943

In this debut film, director Alessandro Croseri delivers a stunningly beautiful ode to combat pigeons and their pigeoneers.
The documentary follows Col. Clifford Poutre at age 103 during the final year of his life and examines his innovations in
the training of homing pigeons for combat missions during World War II.

Drawing on a rich array of archival footage, the film tells the story of Poutre’s thirty-one years of military service as former
Chief Pigeoneer of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, his successful rejection of “starvation” methods of training in favor of a system
defined by “kindness” and care, his pigeons’ remarkable feats both in combat and in civilian races, and his notable friendships
with the likes of Nikola Tesla, himself an impassioned pigeon handler in the later years of his life.

Through a collection of intimate interviews and black and white photography set to the nostalgic tunes of Glenn Miller,
The Pigeoneers serves up a one-of-a-kind tribute and heartfelt exploration of the complex, interdependent relationships between
humans and the birds we so often overlook.

THE PIGEONEERS FILM REVIEWS

This is quite an extraordinary film. It not only tells the story of Col. Clifford Poutre but it contains voluminous
old film clips of homing pigeons in war. For these reasons alone, this is an important film. Dr. Charles Walcott,
Cornell University, New York. Dr. Walcott is a renowned homing pigeon navigation expert.

The Pigeoneers is a love story between man and bird. After viewing Alessandro Croseri's sentimental documentary,
there can be no doubt that Col. Clifford A. Poutre loved the many pigeons that he bred and trained for carrier service in WWII.
By both word and deed, Col. Poutre treated his pigeons as though they were human family members, children, buddies. He believed
in control through kindness. He saw pigeons as intelligent beings which would fly better if they trusted him. Dr. Ed Wasserman,
Delta Center, University of Iowa. Dr. Wasserman is one of the world's foremost expert on pigeon behavior and intelligence.

The Pigeoneers is a documentary film by Al Croseri that tells a great Army story about a thinking and adaptive Soldier,
the type of Soldier who has always given the United States Army its edge in combat and in preparation for combat. This Army story
is told through the eyes of Colonel Clifford A. Poutre, who at the time of filming was well over one hundred years old. The
documentary film captures in a poignant manner the professionalism of Colonel Poutre and the passion he had for
the United States Army Signal Corps Pigeon Service and his trusted pigeons. Major General Gill P. Beck, U.S. Army Reserve

Last night I watched The Pigeoneers with my wife, an historian. She referred to the footage as "a primary historical document"
because it codifies a rare and forgotten history-- that of the use of pigeons during warfare. Remarkablely, the tale is told by a
103-year-old colonel dressed to the nines in military regalia. He's the real deal because he was the "go to" guy in developing
pigeons as instruments of war. The story is warm, interesting and, of course, historical. Dr. Alan Silberberg,
Professor of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC.

THE PIGEONEERS PRESS

THE WAR BIRDS OF FORT MONMOUTH

The Associated Press, USA Today and The Wall St Journal
November 12, 2011

The eagle may be the symbol of American freedom and military might, but no eagle ever received France's Croix de Guerre
for valor,or saved the lives of 1,000 troops trapped behind enemy lines, or walked five miles to deliver vital information
after being shot out of the sky.

Pigeons, of the homing variety, accomplished all of this and countless other amazing feats, during their long and storied
service in the U.S. Army.

Today, few people know about the heroism of these unassuming birds, or the integral role that Fort Monmouth played as the
home of the Army's pigeon breeding and training center from 1917 to 1957.

"Back in the day, these pigeons were rock stars," said independent filmmaker Alessandro Croseri, who is completing a series of
three documentaries about the Army's "pigeoneers," including the late Col. Clifford A. Poutre, a legendary figure
who led the Pigeon Service for many years. "And then, everyone forgot about them."

In peacetime, thousands of people used to flock to the fort every year to see the pigeons. The star attractions included
G.I. Joe, who saved a British brigade that was being bombarded by friendly fire in Italy in 1943, and Kaiser, a one-time
German POW who later delivered messages for the Americans in World War I and went on to live to the ripe, old age of 32,
twice the life span of an average pigeon.

Col. Clifford A. Poutre tossing the last bird in 1957 at the close-out of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Pigeon Service,
Fort Monmouth. /Photo courtesy of Alessandro Croseri Productions.

FINE, FEATHERED WAR HEROS
Birds transported vital information during World Wars and before
The Gazette, Montreal, Canada
November 18, 2009

Alessandro (Al) Croseri, who was kind enough to bring the exploits of these special birds to my attention, has captured
their story in his 8-minute DVD film The Flight, a beautiful and moving homage to the sacrifices that these homing pigeons
made for us in the wars. Croseri also wrote and produced a longer film The Pigeoneers, featuring Poutre.

Next time you scowl at a pigeon in the streets, think about how these birds helped saved thousands of soldier's lives during war.
Dr. David Bird, avian science expert, McGill University, Canada.

ANIMALS IN WARTIME
TheBurg
April 2011 Issue

Practically every type of domesticated animal, from dogs to pigeons, has been used during wartime-even dolphins have been considered.
But these beasts of burden often became pets to the soldiers struggling in the desperateness of battle.....

Soldiers and officers alike grow strong emotional attachments to the animals that serve with them. Consider homing pigeons, which can home
from short and long distances, up to 800 miles and some even further, and were used extensively in World War I and II.

Col. Clifford Poutre, chief pigeoneer of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Pigeon Service from 1936 to '43, "treated his pigeons like they were
family members, children, buddies," said Alessandro Croseri, a documentary filmmaker who has studied the use of pigeons in war.
"They were a soldier's best friend as they saved thousands of lives in combat." Peter Durantine.

THE PIGEONEERS AND THE FLIGHT RECOMMENDED BY CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY'S

PROJECT PIGEON WATCH

IN LOVING MEMORY OF COLONEL CLIFFORD A. POUTRE
1904-2008
CHIEF PIGEONEER
US ARMY SIGNAL CORPS PIGEON SERVICE

Colonel Clifford A. Poutre, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, 1936.

Col. Clifford Poutre's Mobile Loft No. 2, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, 1938.

Interior, Mobile Loft No. 2.

THE PIGEONEERS II ™

The Pigeoneers II featuring the late Sgt. Peter Zakutansky and Lt. Col. Robert S. De Adder.
The film was shot on location at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and will be released in 2012.

Sgt. Peter Zakutansky on the set of The Pigeoneers II, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, Summer 2007.
Pete is standing by, ready to liberate the homing pigeons for a 100 mile toss.

Sgt. Peter Zakutansky, left, Lt. Col. Robert De Adder, center, Ralph Leggio, right, on the set of The Pigeoneers II.
Pete is handling a homer, discussing the bird's condition with Bob and Ralph, before the liberation.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF SGT. PETER ZAKUTANSKY
1921-2010
NIGHT FLYER
WWII US ARMY PIGEONEER

Sgt Peter Zakutansky, WWII US Army Pigeoneer, Night Flyer, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 1942.

In loving memory of the late Sgt. Peter Zakutansky, WWII US Army Pigeoneer, Night Flying Record holder.
Pete died on Monday, March 1, 2010 at the age of 88. To read Pete's Memorial Tribute, please click here and scroll down.

The Pigeoneers II Publications

SIGNAL CORPS 150TH COMMEMORATIVE SITE
1860 - 2010
GETTING THE MESSAGE THROUGH

THE FLIGHT ™

a documentary short film by Alessandro Croseri
8 minutes duration

"The Flight--a lovely tribute to the often-overlooked winged heroes of conflicts past." Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYC.

CLICK HERE FOR MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S LETTER

THE FLIGHT FILM REVIEWS

The Flight reminds us that homing pigeons,by carrying messages and even taking photographs with cameras strapped to their
iridescent-feathered necks, saved lives and won battles in the First and Second World Wars......Al Croseri is to be congratulated
on an effective and moving piece of film-making, and anyone interested in birds and their place in human history is encouraged
to watch this film. It will change the way you think about pigeons. Dr. Rick Wright, Managing Director of Wings, Former Editor
of Winging It, an American Birding Association publication.

This is demonstrably a moving and informative compilation, with a fascinating mixture of historic still photographs and movie clips mixed in with
your modern New York footage. I am pleased to confirm that The Flight will now be held in the American Air Museum information support collection,
and made available to interested researchers upon request. Peter Murton, Research and Interpretation Officer, Imperial War Museum Duxford, UK.

Alessandro Croseri's film The Flight is a beautiful and moving homage to the sacrifices that homing pigeons made
as "winged messengers" at times of war and surely will be greatly enjoyed by pigeon-fanciers, war-historians, and laymen alike.
Dr. Cordula Mora, researcher studying navigation and homing in animals, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

THE FLIGHT FILM REVIEWS, PRESS AND MUSEUM COLLECTIONS Click Here.

TO PURCHASE THE FLIGHT FILM. Click Here.