#6. Wings of War
Throughout history, mankind has enlisted a wide array of animals in the art of warfare—from the mighty war elephant to the faithful horse and, of course, the trusty messenger pigeon. But during World War II, one man took a wildly different approach, developing one of the most unusual and unconventional animal-based strategies yet—Project Pigeon.
B.F. Skinner, an influential American psychologist and behaviorist, was best known for his pioneering work in operant conditioning—the study of how behaviors can be shaped and reinforced through rewards and punishments. His innovative research on training animals using positive reinforcement led to groundbreaking discoveries in both human and animal behavior, but Skinner really put his research to the test when the U.S. Navy came knocking.
At the height of World War II, precision-guided missiles were still a dream rather than a reality. The U.S. military was seeking ways to accurately strike distant, moving targets, especially German battleships, but the bulky guidance systems available at the time made automatic guidance impractical. This led the Navy to turn to unconventional thinkers like Skinner to develop a solution. With his background in animal behavioral conditioning, Skinner was confident that he could train a common pigeon to deliver much more than a message.
Skinner’s plan was as unconventional as it was clever: pigeons would be trained to recognize a target—like a ship—through a process of positive reinforcement. He placed the birds in the nose of a missile, where they would peck at a screen showing an image of the target. The screen was connected to a set of controls, and every time the pigeon pecked at the center of the target, it would adjust the missile’s course. If the target drifted off the screen, the pigeon would correct it by pecking at the new location, guiding the missile until it was back on track. Remarkably, through this training, the pigeons became surprisingly accurate at their task, effectively turning them into living guidance systems.
However, despite its success in the lab, Project Pigeon never saw combat. As radar and electronic guidance systems improved, the military began to favor more conventional technologies. Skinner’s pigeons were left grounded, their potential as bomb-guiding heroes never fully realized.
However, despite its success in the lab, Project Pigeon never saw combat. As radar and electronic guidance systems improved, the military began to favor more conventional technologies. Skinner’s pigeons were left grounded, their potential as bomb-guiding heroes never fully realized.
While the project may seem strange today, it’s a fascinating glimpse into the lengths to which humanity has gone in search of an edge during wartime. And though the pigeons were never deployed, Skinner’s work in behavioral conditioning would go on to have a profound impact, leaving a legacy that extends far beyond the battlefield.