Douglas Havoc I (Pandora)/ Havoc III

The Douglas Havoc I (Pandora) was a particularly unusual weapon which demonstrated the urgent need for any weapon capable of dealing with the threat from German night bombers during the Blitz. The idea was that a Long Aerial Mine would be dangled below the aircraft at the end of a 2,000ft long cable. The Havoc would then fly slowly in front of a formation of German bombers, hoping that one of the raiders would hit the cable, pull up the mine and be destroyed.

The idea was first tested using by No.420 Flight using Handley Page Harrows. The flight was then equipped with twenty converted Havocs, first with the designation Havoc III, then later Havoc I (Pandora). No.420 Flight was redesignated No.93 Squadron, and began operations with the Havoc.

One victory was recorded in May 1941, but that was the only success in months of operations, which only ended in October 1941. The squadron was disbanded, while the Havocs were turned into Havoc I (Intruders).

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (5 September 2008), Douglas Havoc I (Pandora)/ Havoc III , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_douglas_havoc_I_pandora.html

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