Radio Broadcasts

PIGEONS IN COMBAT is on the air with Captain Mike (formerly Capt. Michael Hemp, U.S.A.F.) Bombardier's Lounge, WWII Big Band Jazz, "The Music That Helped Save The World". Missions broadcast live every Fridays from the Clint Eastwood Aerodrome, Hangar B, 1:00pm to 3:00pm Pacific Time on KRML Radio, From Carmel By The Sea, Monterey, California.

Capt. Mike's 3/20/2009 Mission, Memorial to the late Jack Lawrence, 1912-2009, Legendary American Lyricist and Songwriter Click Here to Listen.

Capt. Mike's 3/13/2009 Mission, 97th Birthday Tribute to Jack Lawrence, Legendary American Lyricist and Songwriter Click Here to Listen.

Bombardier's Lounge Squadron for Capt. Mike's 3/06/2009 Mission, Al Croseri Commanding, Pigeons In Combat Squadron, New York City Click Here to Listen.

Bombardier's Lounge Squadron for Capt. Mike's 2/27/2009 Mission, Lieutenant Al Croseri Commanding, Pigeons In Combat Squadron, New York City Click Here to Listen.

Bombardier's Lounge Squadron for Capt. Mike's 2/20/2009 Mission, Lieutenant Al Croseri, Pigeons In Combat Squadron, New York City Click Here to Listen.

Capt. Mike's 2/13/2009 Mission, Click Here to Listen.

Flight Crew for Capt. Mike's 1/30/2009 Mission, Right Waist Gunner, Al Croseri Click Here to Listen.

Bombardier's Lounge Squadron for Capt. Mike's 1/23/2009 Mission, Pigeons In Combat Squadron, New York City Click Here to Listen.

Flight Crew for Capt. Mike's 1/09/2009 Mission, Honorary Bombardier, Col. Clifford Poutre. Click Here to Listen.

PIGEONS IN COMBAT VETERANS' DAY 2007 RADIO BROADCAST on Laura Erickson's "For The Birds Radio Program". Click Here to Listen. PIGEONS IN COMBAT featured in Laura's Birding Blog.

Film Reviews

"The Flight"reviewed by Dr. Rick Wright, Managing Director of "Wings", Former Editor of "Winging It", an American Birding Association publication and owner of "Aimophila Adventures".

Feathered rats, RoPi-dopes, pigs in space: How we birders love to hate 'em! Even those of us who confess to a grudging admiration for such aliens as European Starlings and House Sparrows have nothing but scorn for the Rock Pigeon, a filthy beast that, in its nearly worldwide introduced range, has never made the break with its utter dependence on man and his habitats.

But even the most cursory look reveals that like all creatures, Rock Pigeons have a fascinating natural history, as Cornell's Project PigeonWatch continues to remind us. And the very commensalism that makes so many of us look down on the lowly pigeon means that the species has long enjoyed a special and privileged place in cultural history, too.

Alessandro Croseri's moving Flight is a brief video homage to one aspect of that cultural history, the role that Rock Pigeons have played in war. Combining historic stills with beautiful images of pigeons flying free over New York City, 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. The film does without narration, relying on a somber but appealing sound track and the juxtaposition of images to carry its message. Particularly memorable is the morphing of pigeon wingbeats into artillery fire, and the visual fade of a flock of birds into a squadron of bombers.

Such images might suggest that Rock Pigeons in combat were nothing more than another weapon. But Croseri includes other, equally remarkable images showing the birds and their relationship to their human handlers. Pigeons are cradled and caressed before being sent into harm's way, and their sacrifices are commemorated both photographically and taxidermically. In one of the film's more bizarre shots, captured "enemy" pigeons are paraded through town in cages, simultaneously spoils of war and prisoners.

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.

"The Flight" reviewed by Dr. Cordula Mora, researcher studying navigation and homing in animals, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

"I watched your film The Flight and enjoyed it very much. As someone who has read a considerable amount about the service of homing pigeons in combat, I was very moved by the images, and I think if this film is screened as part of the collection of memorabilia at Fort Monmouth, it will be a very memorable experience for visitors to the museum."

Homing pigeons have an uncanny ability to find their way back to their loft over great distances and from places they have never been to before. Because of this homing sense, pigeons have played an important role throughout human history faithfully carrying messages during times of war and peace.

Today pigeon racing has become a popular sport throughout the world and pigeon fanciers can be found in almost every city. Nevertheless, not many people are aware that an estimated tens of thousands of pigeons lost their lives and many more were wounded, when they were drafted as vital means for communication and reconnaissance during World Wars I and II. Even during the Korean War, pigeons were used as a backup despite the by then significantly advanced communications technology.

However, carrying important messages as well as spy cameras made these pigeons instant targets with many being shot down by enemy soldiers. The fact that a number of pigeons nevertheless made it home, some with shot-off legs or other bullet wounds, speaks for the remarkable homing instinct of these birds and on more than one occasion saved many lives.

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.

"The Flight" reviewed by Dennis Wall, writer, pigeon fancier, administrator and owner of "Independent Pigeon Race Results" (IPRR), UK's website.

From the moment I clicked the 'Start' button on the DVD player I was captivated by this astonishing and enthralling short film depicting facts, not fiction, of homing pigeons and their exploits in World Wars 1 & 2.

This is truly an educational film that should be made available to as many people as possible of all ages, to enlighten them of the heroics that pigeons performed in two world wars, saving many human lives in the process.

Not only were they dropped behind enemy lines in containers attached to small parachutes to be released by resistance and freedom fighters, they were released from mobile lofts, tanks and aircraft to carry vital messages back to headquarters sometimes many miles away, in all kinds of weather, through enemy gunfire.

Some even carried miniature cameras attached to the front of their breasts to photograph areas of hostile territory. Many failed to survive enemy gunfire, others were severely wounded, losing various parts of their anatomy in the process but many remained airborne in spite of the dangers to deliver their urgent and valuable messages and film.

Alessandro Croseri has captured many of these heroics on film with no voice dubbing, but perfect background music and soundtracks that makes this short film so impressive and compulsive viewing.

Let us not forget that pigeons were honoured with more animal 'Victoria Crosses' than any other animals that assisted in the war efforts and Alessandro Croseri has presented us with insights into the various circumstances.

I thoroughly recommend this short film to pigeon fanciers and non fanciers alike. My only regret was that there is insufficient time available on the film to cover many more of these pigeon exploits in more detail. Should he ever decide to make a full length feature film on the same subject, I for one would be near the front of the queue for my cinema seat ticket.

"The Flight" reviewed by Nico Van Benten, pigeon fancier, publisher and chief editor of "Aviculture Europe" The Netherlands.

Technically, the producer Alessandro Croseri, completely succeeded in presenting us an emphatic film on homing pigeons that were used in WWI and WW2 to deliver messanges and 'spy' on enemy activity.

The movie is a clever mix of historical photos and film shots of live pigeons and the perfectly chosen background music and soundtracks make the film even more impressive. Even those who have no real interest in (homing) pigeons, will be moved when seeing the birds, the camera's hanging on their breasts, bravely airborne in spite of the serious dangers facing them.

Of course the notion 'brave' is given by us, humans, but it is the same 'human' value showing us the pigeons with their 'record of service' at the end of the film. It is good to see that they were not all killed in battle but at least a number of them were able to live on in a more pleasant way of life.

All together we are presented with a view of 'pigeons in war-time', a registration of an important part of those battles, but which also raises questions on other more subtle facets of this practice. It is a pity that the film does not further examine these aspects.

The film has truly earned its place in the U.S. Army Communications Electronics Museum and we join in the filmmakers appeal to 'Join them in The Flight, slow down, think and remember'.

JACK'S BAND COLLECTION

JACK O'NEILL, 2 YEARS OLD, PIGEON FANCIER, BELFAST, IRELAND.

I received an email from Jack's grandfather, Michael O'Neill. His correspondence is below. Please help us nurture and encourage the love that Jack has for his pigeons. If you have a ring or 2 that you could send Jack for his band collection, we would be very grateful. Please email Mick at: m.oneil3@ntlworld.com for the mailing address.

GO RAIBH MAITH AGAT (Irish) THANK YOU!!

"My name is Michael O Neill. I live in Belfast, Ireland. After breaking my spine 10 years ago, now, I'm unable to work. 2 years ago, I had my first grandchild, Jack. After visiting a friend (Bill), Jack was brought out to see Bill's homers. Jack loved the birds.

My friend Bill, suggested I get a small loft built for Jack and myself as an interest for us both. I said, "How can you tell a child to keep looking in the sky, your birds are coming?" Bill said, "Get fantails." So that's what I did. A friend sent me a one loft race ring and said I should start collecting rings from other countries and hopefully when Jack's older he will keep it up. Better having a hobby of pigeons and ring collecting than when he's older standing on street corners drinking or abusing people.

We only started keeping pigeons last year. I'm hoping when Jack's older, we can sit down with a big world map and set the rings on each country they came from. Collecting rings, learning where each country is and having your own fantails as a child, it doesn't get much better.

Jack loves his birds and even helps with the scraping."

So what's happening in Belfast, Ireland? It's breeding season and Jack is raising some youngsters.

Jack and his baby sister, Nadine, one years old, future pigeon fancier.

Jack giving Nadine some tips on how to feed the pigeons.

Mick, Jack and I, would like to thank all of the pigeon fanciers whom have so kindly and most generously sent Jack bands and other items for his collection.

GO RAIBH MAITH AGAT MO CHARA (Irish) THANK YOU MY FRIEND!

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