As the scouting forces make contact, Beatty orders HMS Engadine to launch a seaplane for reconnaissance. This is the first naval battle in which an aircraft is launched from a ship to conduct reconnaissance. The aircraft found and reported German light cruisers and came under anti-aircraft fire. The information did not translate cleanly into fleet awareness because relaying the reports failed. The attempt shows the promise of shipborne aviation and the communications limits that kept it from solving Beatty's reconnaissance problem.
Notable Point · 1:29:24-1:31:12
Engadine launches Jutland's shipborne air reconnaissance
Follow the pioneering attempt to launch an aircraft from the fleet to locate German light cruisers, and why reporting failures limited its effect.