HC Deb 24 February 1919 vol 112 cc1423-4W
General Sir IVOR PHILIPPS

asked the Minister of Munitions who was the originator or inventor of the so-called Gotha aprons or screens for checking aeroplane attacks; when the idea was first adopted by the Ministry of Munitions; and when it was first put into operation?

Mr. KELLAWAY

The plan of suspending entanglements from balloons was patented as early as 1913. Several hundreds of proposals of this nature had been received by the Inventions Departments and considered by the responsible authorities by October, 1917. The plans actually adopted in October, 1917, were from designs of screens used in the defence of Venice, and any credit for their initial adoption and operation is due to the Italian Government.