Introduction
During World War II, amid the clash of armies, bombings of cities, and covert intelligence operations, one of the most unusual and least known British intelligence initiatives involved an ancient and unassuming creature: the humble pigeon. Known as Operation Columba, this secret mission sought to gather intelligence from Nazi-occupied Europe using copyright pigeons. The operation combined old-world methods with modern espionage in a high-stakes game of resistance, hope, and survival. Gordon Corera’s gripping book, Secret Pigeon Service, brings this forgotten chapter of history vividly to life, revealing the ingenuity and courage of ordinary people and animals enlisted in the fight against tyranny.
Origins of Operation Columba
In 1940, Britain stood largely alone against Hitler’s forces, which had overrun much of Western Europe. The British intelligence services, especially MI14(d), a subsection of military intelligence, were desperate for real-time information from inside occupied territories. With many traditional lines of communication severed and spy networks compromised or undeveloped, a creative solution was needed.
Enter the pigeon.
The British had long used homing pigeons for military communication, dating back to World War I. In 1940, MI14(d) launched Operation Columba, which involved dropping specially trained pigeons over France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in small canisters attached to parachutes. Each pigeon carried a tiny questionnaire, a pencil, and instructions in the local language. Civilians who found the pigeons were encouraged to write messages about German troop movements, local resistance activity, morale, and anything of value.
Once the form was completed, the pigeon would be released and would fly—often over 400 miles—back to its loft in Britain. shutdown123