Posted By Kevin M. Pearson on July 26, 2006 at 09:47:46:
In Reply to: Homing Pigeons on B-17s posted by Chris on July 21, 2006 at 14:52:09:
I do not know from where you got this passage on pigeon cages, but "positioning the pigeon cage" might mean a couple of things - the positioning of the ball turret relative to landing or the positioning of the radar dome on Pathfinder equipped a/c. In B-24s the ball could be withdrawn back into the fuselage of the plane.
I have not read any reference to the use of pigeons within the 8th AF, but they were used on and after D-Day by ground forces. The one thing I have learned over the years, the Allies used every means available to win that terrible war, and it wouldn't surprise if the 8th did use pigeons in some capacity, but I have never heard or read about it.
Just a guess....
Kevin