Major General Sir Charles Keightley KBE CB DSO decorating GI Joe with the animals Victoria Cross. The pigeon is held by Wing Commander WD Lea Rayner head of the Air Ministry Pigeon Service This is the first time that this medal has been awarded to an animal or bird other than British and it is certainly the first time a ceremony in honour of a pigeon has been held in the Tower of London in all its long history. GI Joe is credited with making the most outstanding flight made by a US Army pigeon during World War II. The message it brought saved lives of at least 100 Allied soldiers during the Italian campaign in 1943. The pigeon made 20 miles in 20 minutes arriving just in time to stop US bombers from bombing a village just occupied by advancing British soldiers. 4th November 1946