World War I and Tsingtao: aviation proves its utility

Rather than being a theoretical novelty, aviation had demonstrated several practical functions during Japan's First World War experience. Japanese aircraft supported operations, conducted reconnaissance, and delivered strikes during the campaign against Tsingtao. That experience gave the young aviation arm an institutional record of usefulness without requiring the mass expansion seen in European warfare. Tsingtao helps explain why Japanese planners considered aircraft necessary both for finding an enemy and for attacking in support of naval and land operations.