Reconnaissance aircraft were the single resource change most likely to disrupt the Japanese approach. Kimmel could cover about sixty degrees properly, while a practical search needed at least 240 degrees even if the eastern approach received less attention. That comparison implies roughly four times the available scout-aircraft capacity. More aircraft and crews would not guarantee victory, but they would greatly increase the chance of detecting the carriers before they reached launch range.
Notable Point · 2:22:25-2:23:38
The fourfold reconnaissance shortfall
Kimmel needed roughly four times his available scout-aircraft capacity to cover the most plausible approaches to Hawaii with a sustainable search.