From what I have read, the practice of taking pigeons on Bomber Command ops was discontinued mid 1943, from memory. I'm happy to be corrected by others here if my memory isn't quite right.
Yes, Paul it was definitely practice in the early stages of the air war for homing pigeons to be carried in crates onboard aircraft. To the best of my knowledge the practice ended in about 1942-43 as radio aids were considered reliable. It was generally the job of the WOP to tend to the pigeons and as I recall having read those who saw the transition from flying with them to without missed the soft cooing of the birds.
Apparently it was also common for the birds to flop over unconscious at altitude due to the lack of oxygen and then recover when the aircraft let down to lower heights
There are many stories of the messages conveyed by these remarkable birds. In so much insight as I have a neighbour who breeds and races homing pigeons wherein now they are all tracked and timed with GPS. It is absolutely remarkable both the distance and speed these winged messengers can travel.
I believe the birds used to carry a handwritten message on paper inserted into a vial attached to one of the bird's legs. Info such as Latitude & Longitude in the event of a downed aircraft, etc.
Of course the SOE, etc. used pigeons to convey intelligence information and often the Resistance were provide crates of these birds on supply drops. This practice may have continued throughout the war at least until post the Invasion.
I'm fairly certain the carrying of pigeons had gone the way of the dodo by your father's time on aircrew as was the case with my own dad's late war service time though they certainly were aware of the former practice
