The Fulmar's two-seat arrangement suited its intended work as an escort fighter for long-range strikes. Returning to a carrier at night required reaching the expected rendezvous area before the ship's limited-power homing beacon could help. Finding the ship also depended on synchronizing the aircraft's watch with the beacon's rotation. A navigator in the rear seat could keep checking the route and calculations while the pilot flew in darkness, faced enemy attacks, and lined up for a strike. Multi-seat aircraft therefore addressed navigation demands that became especially difficult during long-range and night operations.
Notable Point · 55:20-58:52
Why long-range carrier aircraft carried navigators
A dedicated navigator helped aircraft reach a moving carrier's rendezvous area and use its rotating beacon after a night strike.