Pigeon carrier vest PG - 106/CB to share

[Rescue190]

I picked up an interesting item. Must be pretty rare in the US but may be more common on the other side of the pond. It is my understanding the pigeon carriers were used by airborne troops to parachute in with a carrier pigeon. I have no information of how many of these were used per company. This is the first one I have ever seen in person. All opinions and information are appreciated. Thank you for looking.
John

[Grimebox]

Here’s mine and few images showing how they were worn

[AZPhil]

Very Cool,
I had only seen these in period photograph's.

I guess its a must have if building a Airborne display ..
Great pick up John!!

Where do you get stuffed Pigeons Grimebox?????

Semper Fi
Phil

[Grimebox]

The taxidermy pigeon came from eBay. There’s a few listed in the UK / Europe, I don’t know what it’s like for the US. I did have a plastic decoy but they are wood pigeons which are quite a bit bigger than a feral pigeon. This one only cost me £15 (about $25)

[Watchdog]

Yep, that is the bit of kit that the average WWII airborne mannequin just does not have!!
I guess these are the sort of thing that is rare because they were just thrown away (no other use) or the sort of thing that laid in the boxes full in a warehouse somewhere until disposed onto the surplus market.

It is an intriguing piece and I can fully appreciate the printed warning not to keep the poor creature in what is really a straight jacket for too long. If I recall correctly the British equivalent was more like a cage / basket and was also used by aircrew for use in the event of being shot down.

I am not an animal activist by any means but anyone who has experienced military parachuting will surely appreciate that a ride in that device must have been traumatic for the bird. I wonder if many suffered heart attacks? Oh well, fresh rations then lads!

Regards

Mark

[Rescue190]

Thank you for the replies, photos and comments. Hopefully this will end up on a airborne mannequin for someone. I cannot afford to collect airborne items.
John

[MAP]

Yep, that is the bit of kit that the average WWII airborne mannequin just does not have!!
I guess these are the sort of thing that is rare because they were just thrown away (no other use) or the sort of thing that laid in the boxes full in a warehouse somewhere until disposed onto the surplus market.

It is an intriguing piece and I can fully appreciate the printed warning not to keep the poor creature in what is really a straight jacket for too long. If I recall correctly the British equivalent was more like a cage / basket and was also used by aircrew for use in the event of being shot down.

I am not an animal activist by any means but anyone who has experienced military parachuting will surely appreciate that a ride in that device must have been traumatic for the bird. I wonder if many suffered heart attacks? Oh well, fresh rations then lads!

Regards

Mark

The compression if anything calms them down. They now use compression therapy vest for dogs.

[Watchdog]

The compression if anything calms them down. They now use compression therapy vest for dogs.

Quite right, very good point and that does seem to be effective. Wrapping a distressed animal firmly in a blanket has long been recognised as effective in that way. Also, presently it is not unusual to see specialist or explosive search dogs deploy by parachute attached to their handlers in a sling.

I wasn't thinking of the nervous effects of the unknown /unnatural circumstance in which the bird finds itself. Rather I was considering the additional physical trauma of the noise, vibration, severe fluctuation in air pressure and incredible buffeting experienced during exit from the aircraft into the slipstream whilst attached to the soldiers kit with it's head sticking out and neck just asking to be wrung!
All that certainly gets the heart of a trained human pumping

Both US and UK forces used enclosed containers for the same purpose and I was just musing that these had to be far more suitable concerning the protection of such a useful asset (I should think the pigeon would prefer it too ).

Just a thought



Regards

Mark
Credit to;
International Military Antiques | Military Collectibles | Antique Guns
and
A living history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces | ParaData for these pics