David Beatty's handling of naval aviation complicates any simple celebration of his leadership. He had an opportunity to retain the carrier-based element of the Royal Naval Air Service while allowing land-based and bomber units to pass to the new Royal Air Force. Instead, Beatty accepted the whole transfer because he assumed the Royal Navy would retain enough political dominance to compel RAF cooperation. That confidence underestimated the institutional consequences of surrendering direct control over naval aircraft. Interservice organisation became central to Britain's later carrier-air difficulties.
Notable Point · 1:24:22-1:25:13
Beatty's political miscalculation over naval aviation
Beatty accepted unified air control on the assumption that Royal Navy influence could still make the RAF serve naval needs, a conceited judgement in this account.