Winkie (pigeon)

Winkie was a pigeon who won the Dickin Medal in 1943 for assisting in the rescue of an aircrew forced to ditch in the North Sea during the Second World War.^[1]^[2]

Military service

During World War II, Winkie was aboard a British Bristol Beaufort when it crashed in the North Sea on 23 February 1942 as a result of being badly damaged by enemy fire following a mission to Norway.

Struggling in the freezing waters, the crew remembered one piece of vital equipment, a blue chequered hen, number NEHU 40 NSL. It was a long shot, but she was their only chance as the crew did not have time to radio an accurate position before ditching.

Winkie was set free and flew 120 miles home to Broughty Ferry, where her owner, George Ross discovered the exhausted pigeon. He alerted the airbase at RAF Leuchars in Fife, and a search and rescue mission was launched.^[3]

Using the time difference from the plane ditching to the arrival of the pigeon in the loft, and taking into account the wind direction and the inhibition to her flight speed caused by oil spoilage to her feathers, the RAF were able to approximate where the plane ditched. Within 15 minutes the crew’s position had been located and a rescue vessel dispatched.

On 2 December 1943, Winkie was awarded the Dickin Medal. The citation read "for delivering a message under exceptional difficulties and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew while serving with the RAF in February 1942." Winkie received her medal from Maria Dickin in March 1943.

The crew were rescued and later held a dinner for Winkie, who basked in her cage as she was toasted by the officers.

When Winkie died, Ross donated her and her Dickin Medal to Dundee Art Galleries and Museums.^[3]

References

↑ "Animal war heroes statue unveiled". BBC News. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
↑ Herbert, Ian (23 March 2005). "The hero of the latest British war movie is a pigeon called Valiant. A flight of fancy? No, it's based on real life". The Independent. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
1 2 BBC: A History Of The World

Dickin Medal recipients

Cats	Simon

Dogs	Antis Appollo Beauty Bing (Brian) Bob Buster Crumstone Irma Diesel (pending) Gander Jet of Iada Judy Lucky Peter Punch and Judy Rex Ricky Rifleman Khan Rip Rob Salty and Roselle Sadie Sam Sasha Sheila Theo Thorn Tich Treo

Horses	Olga Regal Upstart Warrior

Pigeons	All Alone Beach Comber Billy Broad Arrow Cologne Commando DD.43.Q.879 DD.43.T.139 Duke of Normandy Dutch Coast Flying Dutchman G.I. Joe Gustav Kenley Lass Maquis Mary of Exeter Mercury Navy Blue NPS.42.NS.2780 NPS.42.NS.7524 NURP.38.BPC.6 NURP.43.CC.1418 Paddy Princess Royal Blue Ruhr Express Scotch Lass Tommy Tyke White Vision William of Orange Winkie

War pigeons

Croix de guerre recipients of World War I	Cher Ami

Dickin Medal recipients of World War II	All Alone Beach Comber Broad Arrow Commando G.I. Joe Gustav Mary of Exeter Paddy Royal Blue Tyke White Vision William of Orange Winkie

Others	John Silver Leaping Lena (Cold War)

In fiction	The Pigeon That Took Rome Valiant Yankee Doodle Pigeon

Institutions	National Pigeon Service (UK) United States Army Pigeon Service

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