One of RAF Waddington's carrier pigeons, Pigeon Billy, was awarded a Dicken medal (the "animal VC") during WW2.
The pigeon was on board a Waddington based Hampden of 420 Sqn RCAF (PT-F AD915) that was lost to flak over the Frisian Islands on 18/19 Feb 42. The aircraft, which was tasked with gardening (mine laying) crashed onto the frozen beach - the pilot was taken POW, the two gunners were killed and the navigator badly injured. Three days later, the pigeon from the aircraft was found exhausted near Spurn Point having flown 250 miles into the teeth of snow and sleet storms. The message on its leg gave the aircraft position with the letters "OZO" written in the margin. It is highly likely that the Dutch Resistance had searched the aircraft wreckage once the Germans had gone and found the pigeon ("OZO" was the logo of the Dutch resistance and stands for "Holland will Rise Again").
The pilot of the aircraft was P/O Robert Key, who became a journalist after the war and was one of the "Gang of Five" who formed TV-AM in the 1980s.
Does anyone know where Waddington Heritage Centre can lay hands on a WW2 pigeon carrier that was used on bombers during WW2? It would help with the Pigeon Billy exhibit.