Dutch Coast

Dutch Coast, also known as NURP.41. A.2164, was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.[1]

Military service

Dutch Coast was bred and owned by Mr J Flower of Radcliffe-on-Trent, and was a red cock of the Osman strain of racing pigeons. After being donated into military service, the bird was placed on a bomber so as to relay an S.O.S. message if the plane was shot down.[2] It was given the military designation NURP.41.[3] A.2164. In April 1942, the bomber on which it was on board was ditched in the water near the Dutch coast.[4] The bird was the only one on-board and was retrieved by the crew who released it from the dinghy at 6:20am.[4][2]

It travelled some 288 miles in 7 and a half hours under poor conditions, back to RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.[4] For this action, it was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945,[2] described as the animal's Victoria Cross.[5]

Notes
  1. "Dickin medal pigeons". PDSA. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  2. "Award to Radcliffe Pigeon". Nottingham Evening Post (20819). British Newspaper Archive. 14 April 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. "Pigeons in War". The Royal Pigeon Racing Association. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  4. Long (2012): p. 112
  5. "Lucky and Sadie awarded the 'animal VC'". Ministry of Defence. National Archives. 26 January 2007. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2014.

References
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