In the First World War the Services had been widely accused of resistance on principle to all new ideas, but no such charge could be laid against them in 1940. Indeed, they proved willing to try almost anything. The P.A.C. apparatus had already shown what fantastic feats of ingenuity the Air Ministry was prepared to incorporate in our defensive system, but even this was overshadowed by the 'long aerial mine'. Under pressure from the Prime Minister and the Admiralty, much time and energy was expended on this weapon, which was nevertheless given tee somewhat discouraging code-name of 'Mutton'. It consisted of 2,000 feet of piano wire with a parachute at the top end and a small bomb at the bottom. The intention was to unspool a number of these contraptions from patrolling aircraft, so that they formed an apron in the predicted path of the enemy bombers. When a raider struck one of the wires the pull of the parachute would bring the bomb up against his wing where it would explode.

Many tedious hours, with occasional interlude of unpleasant excitement, were spent by the test pilots of the Royal Aircraft Establishment flying into practice weapons of this character.1 By October No. 420 Flight (later No. 93 Squadron), Middle Wallop, was detailed to employ 'Mutton' operationally. In spite of great efforts on the part of scientists and aircrew alike the project enjoyed singularly little success, and after the main enemy assault was over it was officially abandoned. A similar lack of success met the attempt to operate a free-balloon barrage—a curtain of bombs suspended by wire from balloons released in the path of the enemy. Both ideas failed, not from technical imperfection, but from the sheer immensity of space open to the attackers.

It was also during this period that Wing Commander W. Helmore's proposal for an airborne searchlight came to the fore. The scheme involved fitting a suitable light in an A.I. aircraft, and then operating this for the benefit of an accompanying fighter, which would carry out the actual attack. The technical problems involved were formidable, and though the device was developed with exceptional speed, it was not until the enemy's main offensive against this country had ended that 'Turbinlite' aircraft were ready for use. Ten flights were then rapidly fitted, but the difficulty of cooperating with the
attendant fighter and the inherent imperfections of searchlights in thick weather prevented any great success.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar//UN/...K-RAF-I-7.html

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