Cologne was a pigeon who received the
Dickin Medal
The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in World War II. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried o ...
in 1947 from the
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals
The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) is a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor. It is the UK's leading veterinary charity, carrying ...
for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Cologne served with the
National Pigeon Service The National Pigeon Service (NPS) was a volunteer civilian organization formed in Britain in 1938 as result of representations made to the Committee of Imperial Defence and the British Government by Major W. H. Osman.
During 1939-45 over 200,000 you ...
as Pigeon NURP
[NURP = National Union of Racing Pigeons] 39.NPS 144 and carried out over 100 missions with
Bomber Command
Bomber Command is an organisational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. The best known were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for strategic bombing (although at times, e.g. during t ...
and had previously homed successfully from several downed aircraft before the incident which earned the Dickin Medal.
His citation read –
“For homing from a crashed aircraft over Cologne although seriously wounded, whilst serving with the RAF in 1943”.
See also
*
List of individual birds
This is a list of well-known real birds. For famous fictional birds, see list of fictional birds.
* Águia Vitória, a bald eagle who serves as the mascot for Portuguese football club S.L. Benfica
* Albert Ross, an albatross believed to have been ...
References
External links
PDSA Dickin MedalPicture of Pigeon ''Cologne''
Recipients of the Dickin Medal
Individual domesticated pigeons
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