Image # 0234

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Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

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The day opened fair. Work was commenced on our quarters this am, under the supervision of our boss carpenter Capt. Ellison. Lt. Greely had named this place Ft. Conger, in honor of Mr. Conger of Michigan, who [has] done much in Congress to help the cause of the expedition. Everybody very busy during the day. The word of unloading goes on very rapidly. The cask of English rum was taken out today and issued to the men, who enjoyed it very much after working all day in the cold and wet.

Our men worked all night and up until 10 or 11am this day in bringing our fresh meat to a safe place. The weather today is clear and cold. Our dogs were all put out on the ice as soon as we made fast last evening and they seem to have improved wonderfully in so short a time. About 6am all steam was made on the ship, and preparations made to butt our way through the ice to a point about 2 and a ½ miles from the mouth of the harbor. After some very hard work during which we gained but a few feet at every assault, we arrived at our destination and made fast at 3:30pm. The old ice which we had made our way through was about 4ft thick and sometimes much thicker.

Our ship was not damaged the least. As soon as the ship was fast, Lt. Greely divided the party into 2 squads and the work of unloading was commenced, to be continued day and night until finished. The ship lies about 300 yards from the shore, and the intervening space has been cleaned, so has to make a lane for the boats to go to the shore with our supplies.

The Launch was put overboard and most of the lumber was cleared from the decks. We are making all speed not in getting our meteorological records up to date, and we are so much inconvenienced by the crowded condition of the cabin, the they progress slowly.

Image # 0787

For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:

Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

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Fog lifted in early morning and a open lane was seen leading through the ice to the north. About 9am it cleared and the weather turned very cold; a brisk wind setting in from the Southeast. Taking advantage of the open lead, the vessel steamed north and was soon through the ice, with open water to the north as far as we could see. All sail was set to a fair breeze and under a full head of steam the ship when bowling along at a speed which rivaled anything which were had ever seen her do.

During the past 15 days we have drifted about 40 or 50 miles to the South. All hands were greatly excited as the ship passed point after point, which had become familiar to us a few days before, and our prospects looked better and better for gaining our destination. The wind had been increasing in force during the day and about 12noon was blowing at the rate of 35 or 40 miles per hour. The vessel at this time was crossing Lady Franklin Bay, making directly for Discovery Harbor, where we arrived at 3pm and anchored to the ice which filled it. While making into the mouth of the harbor, a musk ox was seen eating grass and moss, which here cropped out thinly on the hillside. All those who could get a rifle climbed down the sides of the ship and started in pursuit, when they returned late that night they reported a lively race, and a successful hunt, the party having killed in all 14 musk oxen, which they found in among the hills.

Sgt. Linn and myself being distanced in the race for the game, not having got so quick a start as the rest, we gave it up and started to examine a cairn which we could see about 3 miles away. We found it to be made of large stones, but found nothing inside of it. One large flat stone had an arrowhead marked on it and point to the valley to the North East, probably marking the direction of the coal mine discovered near here by the English. The weather growing colder forced us to return to the ship which we did in a round about way going through the valleys instead of over the hills the way we had first travelled. Arriving at the winter quarters on our way to the ship, we met a party going into the hills to dress the game they had killed and bring as much of it as possible to where were to build our quarters. Which is to be at the same place as the English cairn is, on the East shore of Discovery Harbor about 2½ miles from its mouth.

Our party increased by several of the ship’s crew, worked all night in skinning, dressing, and carrying the dead musk-oxen down to our camping place. One of our best dogs died today and was thrown overboard. He had been acting for several days past as though he were mad, and several times he was on the point of being shot by the men. But maybe through compassion (shall I call it) he was allowed to die a natural death.

Image # 0233

For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:

Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

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Image # 0222

For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:

Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

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Weather thick and very disagreeable. Still drifting south before the ice. The fog lifted during the afternoon, and we sighted Dutch Island. At 9:45pm, ship made fast to the ice. During the day a young dog belonging to Pvt. Schneider dies and was thrown overboard.

The CECOM Historical Office came across a document titled “Pigeon Notes.” Pigeon Notes contains information on a number of WWII-era Pigeons that were not necessarily recognized as hero’s, but nonetheless were memorable for some reason. This list includes information on Pigeons form other Army’s too; the information is reproduced here.

Duke of Normandy was the first bird to arrive with a message from paratroopers of the 21st Army group behind enemy lines on D-Day. The Duke was the second fastest pigeon of WWII; he was awarded the Dickin Medal.

Signal Soldier with bird
Image # 3548

Royal Blue was the first pigeon in war to deliver a message from a forced landed aircraft on the continent (Holland) while serving with the Royal Air force in 1940. He flew 120 miles in just over 4 hours to deliver news on the situation of the crew; he also was awarded the Dickin medal.

Annie was hatched in Algeria; she delivered the first news from Mount Cassino about its capture.

Message capsule attached to pigeon’s leg.
Image #3556-A

Black Magic: was hatched at Fort Sam Houston, he was the first Amy pigeon to carry a message from the African rear echelon to the Italian mainland. He was ferried by a spy on a submarine to the French coast.

Dogface was hatched in Bizerte; he carried a message from the front at Cassino. His beak was blown loose from his body and a glass tube inserted into his throat.

Proper handling of pigeon
Image # 3556-B

The Freak was hatched in Algeria, and had 3 legs.

Little Wonder was hatched in Bizerte and used on the Italian Front; Little Wonder saved an Infantry Patrol that was pinned down.

Miss Brooklyn: was found lying in No Man’s Land and was rescued by a G.I. medic. She was rescued several times from behind enemy lines by Italian spies and British commandoes.

Mobile pigeon loft
Image #3671-A

Miss Peggy, Master Brian and Just Jerry rescued British and Nepali Soldiers who were trapped on Hangman’s Hill during the assault on Cassino.

Pretty Lady, Hatched in Bizerte, carried messages from behind enemy lines about the German retreat lanes. She has a wing tip shot off near Florence.

For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:

Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of these same photographs? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the image number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.

Note: This entry composed by Floyd, and edited/posted by Chrissie.

For bibliography purposes, these images can be cited:

Image #—, “US Army Photo collection, C-E Museum Acquisition” from the CECOM Historical Office archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

Make sure to double-check your style guide for the appropriate method of citation for your work. Need a higher resolution version of this same photo? Leave us a comment below or click on our contact page above, and reference the image number. Each of the scanned originals is approximately 2-11 MB.