“THE FLIGHT” by Alessandro Croseri

Film Review by Dr. Cordula Mora, researcher studying navigation and homing in animals, University of Auckland, New Zealand.  March 15, 2007.

Homing pigeons have an uncanny ability to find their way back to their loft over great distances and from places they have never been to before. Because of this homing sense, pigeons have played an important role throughout human history faithfully carrying messages during times of war and peace.

Today pigeon racing has become a popular sport throughout the world and pigeon fanciers can be found in almost every city. Nevertheless, not many people are aware that an estimated tens of thousands of pigeons lost their lives and many more were wounded, when they were drafted as vital means for communication and reconnaissance during World Wars I and II.  Even during the Korean War, pigeons were used as a backup despite the by then significantly advanced communications technology.  

However, carrying important messages as well as spy cameras made these pigeons instant targets with many being shot down by enemy soldiers. The fact that a number of pigeons nevertheless made it home, some with shot-off legs or other bullet wounds, speaks for the remarkable homing instinct of these birds and on more than one occasion saved many lives.

Alessandro Croseri’s film "The Flight" is a beautiful and moving homage to the sacrifices that homing pigeons made as "winged messengers" at times of war and surely will be greatly enjoyed by pigeon-fanciers, war-historians, and laymen alike.

Dr. Cordula Mora's biography:

http://bellsouthpwp2.net/r/d/rd_mora/DrCordulaMora/

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