28. Banding
a. Each breeding loft is furnished with identifying metal leg bands to be used in banding all youngsters. These bands, PG-16, are manufactured in pairs. Each pair bears the pigeon’s serial number.
(1) One of the pair of bands bears a marking which includes U*S, the last two figures of the calendar year the bird was hatched, the letters SC or AAF, and a serial number. This band is placed on the left leg and indicates that the pigeon was bred by the United States Army. It should not be removed as it serves to identify the pigeon with its breeding record.
(2) The other band of the pair bears marking identical to that in (1) above except that in place of the “U*S” it bears the letters “USA.” This band is placed on the right leg, and it means that the pigeon was bred by and is the property of the United States Army. This band is removed whenever the pigeon ceases to remain the property of the United States Army.
| (3) | Characteristic markings of leg bands now used are as follows: | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Right leg, USA 44 SC 15. | |
| Left leg, U*S 44 SC 15. | ||
| (b) | Right leg, USA 44 AAF 407. | |
| Left leg, U*S 44 AAF407. | ||
| (4) | The following designations were used prior to 1944: | |
| FtM. | Fort Monmouth | |
| 4CA | 4th Corps Area | |
| 4th SC | 4th Service Command | |
| 7th SC | 7th Service Command | |
| 8CA | 8th Corps Area | |
| 8th SC | 8th Service Command | |
| 9th SC | 9th Service Command | |
| CZ | Canal Zone | |
| HT | Territory of Hawaii | |
| PI | Philippine Islands | |
| ML | Mobile Loft | |
| C | Combat | |
| PR | Puerto Rico | |
| SC | Signal Corps | |
| TH | Territory of Hawaii | |
b. In addition to the banded pigeons bred and owned by the United States Army, there are those of the United States Navy, and two large national associations of civilian pigeon fanciers, the American Racing Pigeon Union and the International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers, as well as those of numerous smaller organizations. The following examples illustrate the character of the legends used on the bands:
USN 32 492AU 28 EC 1245 IF 27 C 6700
Figure 22. Method of banding youngsters.
c. When banded pigeons are lost in flight, their band markings are listed on the Monthly Pigeon Loft Report ([par. 27 e]).
d. Each loft is authorized to use various colored, spiral, celluloid leg bands for special identification purposes. For example, all pigeons in a particular compartment of each loft may be fitted with celluloid bands of the same color to facilitate keeping track of them. These bands, PG-15, are requisitioned in the following colors: red, yellow, green, light-blue, dark-blue, black, and pink.