Early naval aviation was an organizational challenge as much as a technical one. Navies had to decide where aviation officers came from, who commanded at each level, and how tactics connected aircraft to the fleet. Several isolated units do not necessarily provide the combat power of one integrated force, even when their numbers look greater. Integration reduces blue-on-blue risk and the coordination failures that also trouble mature alliances such as NATO. These institutional choices made carrier striking power usable rather than leaving aircraft and ships as disconnected capabilities.
Chapter · 10:55-13:10
Naval aviation required institutions as well as aircraft
Aviation development meant creating command, staffing, tactical, and force-integration arrangements rather than merely acquiring aircraft and carriers.