From Berlin's Gatow airfield to R.A.F.'s London headquarters last week went a cry for reinforcements to fight off saboteurs. Thousands of starlings flocking to Gatow were menacing the props of airlift planes. Airmen knew that HQ had just the weapons to handle them—a squadron of fierce falcons trained to keep Britain's airfields clear of gulls, plovers, rooks and other airborne pests.
In 1941, when wild falcons began attacking their carrier pigeons, the R.A.F. had almost brought British falconry to a full stop. Then an ardent falconer and artillery private named Ronald Stevens persuaded the brass that falcons could be turned to their...
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