Savageduck wrote in
news:2011100612274854536-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom:

On 2011-10-06 10:38:36 -0700, Richard said:

Is that an antenna of some kind?

I believe that is a degaussing coil used for dealing with magnetic
mines in coastal minesweeping operations.


Minesweeping aircraft

Aircraft can also be used for minesweeping. During World War II, fifteen
British Vickers Wellington bombers were modified to carry a large magnetic
induction loop and an electrical generator. The 'Directional Wireless
Installation' (DWI), a cover story for the true purpose of the magnetic
loop, was used successfully on May 10, 1940 to sweep a path for the escape
of the Dutch Royal Family to the UK. The DWI was used most successfully in
the Mediterranean theatre, particularly over the Suez Canal and Alexandria
Harbour. Their use revealed the limitations of the technique, in that it
only works effectively in very shallow water (such as canals and harbours).



http://www.historyofwar.org/articles...ngton_dwi.html