This special re-print edition of the United States War Department's book "Signal Pieon Manual" provides information on the use of Homing Pigeons as messengers during the Second World War. Written in 1944, this manual was issued to members of the U.S. Signal Pigeon Corps. The United States Army Pigeon Service (a.k.a. Signal Pigeon Corps) was a unit of the United States Army during World War I and World War II. Their assignment was the training and usage of homing pigeons for communication and reconnaissance purposes. During World War II, the force consisted of 3,150 soldiers and 54,000 war pigeons, which were considered an undetectable method of communication. Over 90% of US Army messages sent by pigeons were received. This reprinted text is fascimile of the manual issued during the last years of World War Two to enlisted men in the Signal Pigeon Corps on how to care for and utilize homing pigeons as millitary messengers. A fascinating read. Note: This edition is a perfect facsimile of the original edition and is not set in a modern typeface. As a result, some type characters and images might suffer from slight imperfections or minor shadows in the page background.

This 1942 illustrated field manual is organized as follows: Chapter 1. Mechanical Training Section I. General Section II. Disassembly and Assembly Section III. Care and Cleaning Section IV. Functioning Section V. Operation Section VI. Immediate Action and Stoppages Section VII. Spare Parts and Accessories Section VIII. Ammunition Section IX. Individual Safety Precautions Chapter 2. Marksmanship—Known-Distance Targets Section I. General Section II. Preparatory Marksmanship Training Section III. Qualification Courses Section IV. Range Practice Section V. Equipment—Known-Distance Targets and Ranges Chapter 3. Marksmanship—Moving Ground Targets Section I. General Section II. Moving Personnel Section III. Moving Vehicles Section IV. Moving Targets and Ranges and Range Precautions Chapter 4. Marksmanship—Air Targets Section I. Air Targets for Carbine Section II. Technique of Fire Section III. Marksmanship Training Section IV. Miniature Range Practice Section V. Ranges, Targets, and Equipment Chapter 5. Firing at Field Targets Chapter 6. Advice to Instructors Section I. General Section II. Mechanical Training Section III. Marksmanship—Known-Distance Targets Section IV. Marksmanship—Air Targets Section V. Field Target Firing

Created during WWII by the War Department, the Handbook on German Military Forces was intended to familiarize command staff with nearly every aspect of Hitler's war machine. Originally classified "restricted," the Handbook was created from the best intelligence that the OSS and other military information sources could offer. It contains comprehensive information and analysis of the German military system, and includes chapters on the organization of Wehrmacht field forces, military and auxiliary organizations (including SS and SA), tactics, fortifications and defenses, movement, supply and evacuation. It also contains a description of German uniforms and equipment. This includes mechanized forces and weapons from small arms to mortars, artillery, vehicles and tanks, and rocket weapons. The Handbook's final chapters are devoted to a study of the Luftwaffe, including its chain of command, equipment, training and tactics. While some of the details within this book may bear review in light of history, it remains one of the most comprehensive compendiums of information about the German forces ever assembled. Although it was declassified after WWII, it's never been easy to obtain a copy of this book. This high quality reprint includes all the original text, diagrams and photographs from the final, 1945 revised version of the manual.

The United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1 is a lightweight, semi-automatic longarm that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II. It was widely used by U.S. and foreign military, police forces, and has also been a popular civilian firearm.The first M1 carbines were delivered in mid-1942, with priority given to troops in Europe. The M1 was highly praised for its small size, light weight and firepower, especially by troops who were unable to use a full size rifle as their primary weapon. The .30 Carbine cartridge was adequate in both muzzle energy and muzzle velocity. The .30 Carbine had a round-nose 110 gr bullet, in contrast to the spitzer bullet designs found in most full power rifle cartridges of the WWII era. A total of over 6.5 million M1 carbines and variants were manufactured, making it the most popular small arm for the American military during World War II.Created in 1942, this field manual reveals a great deal about the M1's design and capabilities. Intended as a manual for those charged with operation, it details many strategies for attaining outstanding marksmanship. Originally labeled restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, and served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States military from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used from the First World War all the way up to the Vietnam War. Modern M1911 variants are still in use by some units within the U.S. Army Special Forces, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 was designed by John Browning, and is the best known of his designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design. The design was widely copied, and this operating system rose to become the most renowned type of the twentieth century. In total, the United States purchased around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols in military contracts during its service life. Created in 1940, this field manual reveals a great deal about the M1911's design and capabilities. Intended as a manual for those charged with operation, it details many strategies for achieving outstanding marksmanship. Originally labeled restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.