War Pigeon! Missouri's Role in the Training of Pigeons and Pigeoneers in WWII

Tim Scherrer, an educator and author of several books of military history, will describe the unusual history of the U.S. Army Signal Pigeon Corps from 1917 to 1957, with an emphasis on the training and  breeding program at Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri. 

Several of the 10 Signal Pigeon Companies the Army created in WWII were built and trained at Camp Crowder, and  they served in the U.S., Africa, Europe and Asia. These winged messengers delivered 95% of their messages at speeds as high as 100 miles per hour. Many lives were saved as a result of their service. 

The Signal Pigeon Company was the only Army formation capable of self-sustaining its own staffing due to the breeding of birds. The program survived through the Korean War and was disbanded in 1957.