German Motorcycle Pigeon Patrol, 1932

German Freikorps, Reichsheer and Reichsmarine 1919-1934.
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Doktor Krollspell
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German Motorcycle Pigeon Patrol, 1932

Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello all!

I found this photograph on http://www.corbis.com and was quite intrigued by the text. Does anybody have any information or opinions about camera equipped "Aufklärung" pigeons? And I really like the photograph! :D

German Motorcycle Pigeon Patrol, 1932
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A German motorcycle pigeon patrol near Berlin in 1932. Such pigeons were used to carry messages and undertake survey work by means of small cameras attached to the birds.

Regards,

Krollspell
"Wie es eigentlich gewesen ist"
Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886)
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fridgeman
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Re: German Motorcycle Pigeon Patrol, 1932

Post by fridgeman »

Hi!

Pigeons were used alot for communication and espionage.
But i dont know if there were really cameras attached to them, more i
think they transported the films with recon or espionage photos done by soldiers.

The austrians seemed to be very passionate about the pigeons, they even
had a "carrier pigeon squadron" until the 1980s, also pigeons were used by
Gendarmerie - the austrian police.

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"Carrier pigeon squadron" badge

A camouflaged cage for 4 pigeons and a small basket for 1 pigeon, made for operations.
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