Ospreys became central to early fighter-control experiments built around visual detection, Morse radio traffic, airborne reconnaissance, and destroyer pickets. Successful interceptions demonstrated how fighters could disrupt an attack, but inconsistent warning also exposed the fleet's vulnerability. Those mixed results, together with Admiral Reginald Henderson's experience, fed the developing case for protected carriers of the Illustrious class.
Notable Point · 2:22:17-2:24:22
Osprey exercises expose fighter direction before radar
Royal Navy exercises used Ospreys, visual spotting, radio telegraphy, reconnaissance aircraft, and destroyer pickets to test whether fighters could break up air attacks before radar existed.