British operating evidence challenges the flush-deck carrier

The US Bureau of Aeronautics remained attached to flush-deck carriers despite British operating experience that challenged the concept. An American naval attaché obtained reduced versions of Royal Navy reports through a senior British officer, with Admiralty permission. Britain was still exchanging information with the United States and Japan, so sharing the reports also served those relationships. Advocates nevertheless argued that American designers could avoid the British problems. Lexington and Saratoga provided another source of practical evidence by turning doctrine developed through war gaming into operations that could be applied across the fleet. Their experience helped shape the Yorktown design.