The 88th Searchlight Regiment (88th S/L Rgt) was an air defence unit of Britain's Royal Artillery during World War II.

This layout was an attempt to improve the chances of picking up enemy bombers and keeping them illuminated for engagement by AA guns or night fighters.

[8][9][10] The area between Portland and Exeter had been left largely unscathed during the Blitz of 1940–41, but at New Year 1942 the Luftwaffe began launching Fighter-bomber attacks on towns along the South Coast of England.

This was the start of a major campaign against undefended towns and cities across England, chosen as much for cultural reasons as for their industries, and became known as the Baedeker Blitz.

AA Command's response was to move HAA guns from what had been higher-priority targets, creating a number of new GDAs, and completing the reorganisation of the S/L belts.

[19][20] With the lower threat of attack by the weakened Luftwaffe, AA Command was forced to release manpower for the planned invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord).