Royal Blue (pigeon)
Encyclopedia
Royal Blue, also known as NURP.40.GVIS.453, was a male pigeon of the RAF pigeon service. He was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in March 1945 for being the first pigeon to deliver a message from an allied forced landed aircraft from the European mainland during World War II
. He had originally been housed at the Royal Lofts
at Sandringham
, and was owned by King George VI
.
through the Royal Lofts
at Sandringham
. He was also known by the identifier NURP.40.GVIS.453.
Royal Blue was one of a number of pigeons kept aboard RAF bombers and reconnaissance planes so that a downed plane's co–ordinates could be sent back to the base in Britain so that a search and rescue mission could be mounted. Royal Blue was the first such pigeon to return to its base on the 10 October 1940, having been released in Holland. In around four hours and ten minutes, he flew 120 miles (193.1 km).
Royal Blue was awarded the Dickin Medal
, considered to be the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross
, in March 1945, after being initially reviewed by the Allied Forces Mascot Club. The citation read "For being the first pigeon in this war to deliver a message from a forced landed aircraft on the Continent while serving with the RAF in October, 1940". Along with fellow pigeon Commando
, the duo were presented with their medals by Rear Admiral R.M. Bellairs on 12 April 1945. He is one of 32 pigeons to have been awarded a Dickin Medal.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He had originally been housed at the Royal Lofts
Pigeon keeping
Pigeon keeping is the art and science of breeding domestic pigeons. People have practiced pigeon keeping for about 10,000 years in almost every part of the world...
at Sandringham
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
, and was owned by King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
.
Military service
Royal Blue, a blue cock, was owned by George VI of the United KingdomGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
through the Royal Lofts
Pigeon keeping
Pigeon keeping is the art and science of breeding domestic pigeons. People have practiced pigeon keeping for about 10,000 years in almost every part of the world...
at Sandringham
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
. He was also known by the identifier NURP.40.GVIS.453.
Royal Blue was one of a number of pigeons kept aboard RAF bombers and reconnaissance planes so that a downed plane's co–ordinates could be sent back to the base in Britain so that a search and rescue mission could be mounted. Royal Blue was the first such pigeon to return to its base on the 10 October 1940, having been released in Holland. In around four hours and ten minutes, he flew 120 miles (193.1 km).
Royal Blue was awarded the Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
, considered to be the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, in March 1945, after being initially reviewed by the Allied Forces Mascot Club. The citation read "For being the first pigeon in this war to deliver a message from a forced landed aircraft on the Continent while serving with the RAF in October, 1940". Along with fellow pigeon Commando
Commando (pigeon)
thumb|right|A photograph of Commando from the Imperial War Museum archives.Commando was a pigeon used in service with the British armed forces during the Second World War to carry crucial intelligence. The pigeon carried out more than ninety missions during the war, and received the Dickin Medal ...
, the duo were presented with their medals by Rear Admiral R.M. Bellairs on 12 April 1945. He is one of 32 pigeons to have been awarded a Dickin Medal.