Operation Columba--The Secret Pigeon Service

In "Operation Columba," Gordon Corera unveils the remarkable and often overlooked role of homing pigeons in British intelligence during World War II. Between 1941 and 1944, over sixteen thousand pigeons were discreetly deployed across Nazi-occupied Europe to gather crucial information and communicate with Resistance members, revealing life under German occupation. Through declassified documents and original research, Corera tells the compelling story of ordinary individuals, like the courageous Belgian priest Joseph Raskin, who risked everything to send vital intelligence back to Britain. This gripping tale of espionage, resilience, and unexpected heroes sheds new light on a unique chapter of the war.