• EPISODE 2 - SKY
• THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE RACE
• CSI: INSECT DIVISION!

EPISODE 2 - SKY

Flying through the air holds several advantages over land or sea travel. Distances are covered faster and the field of vision is vastly improved. Taking advantage of these factors is necessary in military operation and the best way is to turn to those most at home hovering high above the ground; the animals of the sky.

Introduction – CGI
Pigeon Post
A huge roar goes up in a stadium of thousands of people. It is ancient Greece and the main Olympic event has just concluded with the final victor now crowned. One man amongst the crowd ties a small piece of papyrus to the leg of a pigeon and happily releases it into the air to another roar of the crowd. The pigeon soars into the air above the stadium and takes flight on its journey.

THE PIGEON – MAILMAN TO MILITARY HERO

Pigeons - Courage Under Fire
Several pigeons in wartime history have been decorated with military medals including the French Croix de Guerre and the Dickin medal of honour.

Falcons – The Natural Enemy is Conscripted
In an attempt to stop Hitler using messenger pigeons during WWII, MI5 trained Peregrine Falcons to monitor the skies above the Scilly Islands and take down any pigeons they spotted heading for France.

But birds are by no means the only animals utilised by the military in the sky. In fact most fly much higher than your average bird. Much, much higher.

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THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE RACE

In Space, No One Can Hear You Howl, Chirp, Shriek, Buzz or Hiss.
The first animals ever intentionally sent into space were Fruit Flies in the late 1940's. Since then the list of animals sent into orbit include everything from Frogs, Mice and Monkeys to Ants, Snails, Spiders and even Sea Urchins. The big question is, of course, WHY?!!

FACT OR FICTION?
Rob the Dog was trained to parachute jump to assist soldiers engaged in fierce battles behind enemy lines. In 1945 Rob was awarded the Dickin Medal however this claim has been called into question with the suggestion that Rob the Dog was merely a tool of military propaganda than a true war hero.
INVESTIGATION – Rob the Parachuting Dog - Hero or zero?

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CSI: INSECT DIVISION!

That Dragonfly is Watching You
Tiny aircraft are being developed to be utilised for surveillance operations by several organisations in the USA, using the anatomy of flying insects as inspiration.

A Warning 'Bee'-con
Bees boast a rich history of patriotic service. Since anomalies in bee behavior are often associated with exposure to toxins they make an excellent alarm system for avoiding toxic exposure.

Parasitic Wasps - the Bloodhound of the Future
Parasitic Wasps can be trained in minutes to smell just about anything with the simple reward of sugar water, this being far superior to a Dog which can take months to learn a single smell.

BIZARRE FACT
The noses of military aircraft are sometimes painted with the image of a frightening animal which is believed to strike fear in an enemy when they see the painted aircraft approach. Taking to the streets we show a range of images to general public in a Vox Pop to ascertain what is frightening and why.
EXPERIMENT – Can mere suggestion invoke a fear response in a human?

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