Aircraft became indispensable reconnaissance assets as armies moved faster and needed information from farther away. Without satellite surveillance, a force could not limit its view to the next ridge or road junction. If an army might cover about 100 miles in a day, commanders needed to know what awaited it before it arrived. Plans could extend several days ahead, while long-range artillery required observation of enemy activity well behind the front. Improvements in movement and communication increased the depth of information armies required, giving dependable reconnaissance aircraft a continuing operational role.
Notable Point · 17:32-18:31
Why faster armies needed deeper aerial reconnaissance
Faster maneuver and longer-ranged artillery forced armies to scout far beyond the next hill and plan around information gathered several days ahead.