By 1936, Japanese expansion, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the developing crisis in Spain made Britain's defence gaps harder to ignore. Thomas Inskip became Minister for Co-ordination of Defence as the dispute over Fleet Air Arm control reached the government. The RAF's shortage of long-range maritime reconnaissance exposed the weakness of its earlier structure, and the Navy nearly gained Coastal Command along with the Fleet Air Arm. Establishing a separate command gave maritime aviation a clearer institutional home as Britain rearmed. The change followed the failure of promised capability to meet a strategic requirement.
Chapter · 39:53-46:43
Why Coastal Command was formed in 1936
The 1936 reorganization acknowledged that maritime reconnaissance and air defense needed clearer command arrangements as Britain rearmed.