Were aerial mines ever used against night bombers?

Short answer

Yes, and in real operations: No.420 Flight tested the Long Aerial Mine, a mine suspended at the end of a 2,000-foot (ft) cable, first with Handley Page Harrows and later with twenty converted Havocs. Only one victory was recorded, in May 1941, over months of operations.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Were aerial mines ever used against night bombers?

422d Night Fighter Squadron Douglas A-20 Havoc

A mine hanging from a cable

The Long Aerial Mine was a mine that hung beneath the aircraft at the end of a 2,000-foot (ft) cable. The Havoc was meant to fly slowly ahead of a formation of German bombers, in the hope that one of the attackers would strike the cable, drag the mine upward and be destroyed.

From No.420 Flight to No.93 Squadron

The idea was first tested by No.420 Flight, which used Handley Page Harrows for this purpose. The unit was later equipped with twenty converted Havocs, initially under the designation Havoc III and later Havoc I (Pandora). No.420 Flight was renamed No.93 Squadron and began operating the Havoc.

A single success

In May 1941 one victory was recorded, the only success of months of operations, which did not end until October 1941. The squadron was disbanded and the Havocs were converted into Havoc I (Intruders).