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Show Pigeon Fanciers May Buy Prise -Army Stock Thousands of army homing pigeons, veteran "G I" message carriers of good breeding stoci:. are now being offered for direct sale to civilians, according to the office of surplus property of the department of commerce. The war birds, all army band-ed band-ed and bred for message carrying car-rying and other military purposes, pur-poses, may be purchased in 5 pair lots at $25.00 a lot by any person on application to the department de-partment in Washington, D. C. The pigeons are from one to five years of age. Bird fanciers, 4-H Club members mem-bers and breeders on the lookout look-out for exceptional stock are invited in-vited to write to the Office of Surplus Property, General Products Prod-ucts Section, Washington, D. C. for full information. Of exceptional lineage, the birds are descendants of some of the country's finest homing pigeon breeding stock and were presented to the government at the start of the war by pigeon fanciers to aid in rapid formation forma-tion of large flocks of message carriers. Buyers of the lots of five pairs of pigeons will receive a certificate of service from the army for each bird. This will provide evidence of ownership of the birds which wear army leg bands. The government doe? not furnish information, however, how-ever, regarding strain, sire, dam, or racing records because of the work involved. The story of bravery, courage and reliability behind tne "Doves" of World War II is wen Known. Many amazing ana amusing anecdotes of their achievements have already bee-i published of their dramatic service in rescue work, In apprehending ap-prehending enemy agents, in indicating locations of disablea craft, in conveying warnings and getting other vital communications commu-nications through with dispatch when human and mechanical methods failed. Like the K-9 dogs of war, army homers were put through special training. Some were taught to fly at night, overcoming over-coming their urge to perch at sunset. |