There is no specific breed actually called "carrier pigeon," so a carrier pigeon is any variety that is used to carry messages. Training the pigeons is … Carrier pigeons were the most reliable communications tool in the war. This modern homing pigeon is a breed known as a Racing Homer, a breed which was bred from eight different pigeon breeds including the English Carrier. With training, pigeons can carry up to 75 g (2.5 oz) on their backs. The Americans sent off a few carrier pigeons relaying their desperate position, however, it wasn't clear to them whether or not any of them actually made it through. When used as carrier pigeons in pigeon post a message is written on thin light paper and rolled into a small tube attached to the bird's leg. Pigeons played a vital part in World War One as they proved to be an extremely reliable way of sending messages. Homing pigeons have long played an important role in war. Between 60-75 birds could be housed in a mobile loft at any one time. The next afternoon, the Germans attacked from all sides, however, the Americans were able to fight them off. Around 100,000 birds carried messages back and forth from the front with a success rate of more than 95 percent. The German apothecary Julius Neubronner used carrier pigeons to deliver urgent medication. With a short rolled up message inserted into a little tube attached to their leg a pigeon could deliver a message by simply returning “home”, wherever that might be. Such was the importance of pigeons that over 100,000 were used in the war with an astonishing success rate of 95% getting through to their destination with their message. Animals were no exception when it came to war, thousands were sent along… With training, pigeons can carry up to 75 g (2.5 oz) on their backs. However, they still had their carrier pigeons with them. Some carrier pigeons were trained to go over 60 miles per hour. Homing pigeons have a rich history of carrying messages and supplies between two locations. More. They could cover 100 miles in a round trip. We do not forget those who served, we honour them everyday while living free lives that they helped to ensure. dedicated to the carrier pigeon… Carrier pigeons should not be confused with English Carriers, which were once used many years ago to carry messages but are now bred primarily for their "carriage" and other show qualities. By the end of the war, the carrier pigeon service was also supplying birds to that newfangled British invention, the tank—where the pigeons, Osman confessed, “often became stupefied, no doubt due to the fumes of oil”—and they were also used increasingly in intelligence work. Carrier pigeons were more often used in the first half of the 20th century to carry messages, and were trained to come back home after delivery. (Fly, Pigeon!) They helped save a lot of lives and reduce the risk of messengers getting killed, they were really efficient and stealthy and were able to send messages without anyone knowing or anyone being able to track where the letters came from. The media report-ed just recently that police were searching for a pigeon valued at $184,000 because of its speed! Carrier pigeons were allotted to both stationary and mobile lofts. Carrier pigeons are historically important, as … This photograph shows a former London double-decker bus being used as a mobile loft. Until 1844, upon the invention of the telegraph, carrier pigeons were the fastest and most reliable form of message-transmission.