Royal Blue (pigeon)

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.

Royal Blue was the first such pigeon to return to its base on the 10 October 1940, having been released in the Netherlands.

[5] Royal Blue was awarded the Dickin Medal, considered to be the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, in March 1945,[4] after being initially reviewed by the Allied Forces Mascot Club.

[3] 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".