Paddy (pigeon)

Paddy (Pigeon number NPS.43.9451)^[1] was an Irish carrier pigeon awarded the Dickin Medal after being the fastest pigeon to arrive back in England with news of the success of the D-Day invasion, out of hundreds dispatched. He flew 230 miles across the English Channel in four hours and fifty minutes,^[2] the fastest recorded crossing, and was awarded the medal on 1 September 1944, just under three months after the crossing.^[3] Paddy was trained by Andrew Hughes of Carnlough and is the only animal in Ireland to be awarded this medal.^[4] The medal citation reads,

"For the best recorded time with a message from the Normandy Operations, while serving with the RAF in June, 1944."

His medal was sold at auction for almost £7,000 in September 1999.^[5]

References

↑ PDSA website, Dickin Medal awardees, retrieved 2006-02-26
↑ Times Online, "Top 50 greatest sporting animals", retrieved 2008-04-26
↑ Observer magazine Dickin medal awardees, retrieved 2006-02-26
↑ BBC Your Place and Mine, "Paddy Power", retrieved 2008-04-26
↑ BBC News website, "Northern Ireland Fancier flies away with pigeon medal", retrieved 2006-02-26

Dickin Medal recipients

Cats	Simon

Dogs	Antis Appollo Beauty Bing (Brian) Bob Buster Crumstone Irma Diesel (pending) Gander Jet of Iada Judy Lucca Lucky Peter Punch and Judy Rex Ricky Rifleman Khan Rip Rob Salty and Roselle Sadie Sam Sasha Sheila Theo Thorn Tich Treo

Horses	Olga Regal Upstart Warrior

Pigeons	All Alone Beach Comber Billy Broad Arrow Cologne Commando DD.43.Q.879 DD.43.T.139 Duke of Normandy Dutch Coast Flying Dutchman G.I. Joe Gustav Kenley Lass Maquis Mary of Exeter Mercury Navy Blue NPS.42.NS.2780 NPS.42.NS.7524 NURP.38.BPC.6 NURP.43.CC.1418 Paddy Princess Royal Blue Ruhr Express Scotch Lass Tommy Tyke White Vision William of Orange Winkie

War pigeons

Croix de guerre recipients of World War I	Cher Ami

Dickin Medal recipients of World War II	All Alone Beach Comber Broad Arrow Commando G.I. Joe Gustav Mary of Exeter Paddy Royal Blue Tyke White Vision William of Orange Winkie

Others	John Silver Leaping Lena (Cold War)

In fiction	The Pigeon That Took Rome Valiant Yankee Doodle Pigeon

Institutions	National Pigeon Service (UK) United States Army Pigeon Service

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