Prewar carrier flag-command arrangements

Ark Royal, Courageous, and Glorious had spaces for the rear admiral responsible for aircraft carriers. Their early losses mattered because later Illustrious-class carriers had not been designed around that flagship role. The discussion distinguishes the intended striking carrier, directly associated with the air commander, from fleet carriers expected to protect the fleet and conduct more limited strikes. The annual's squadron listings therefore open onto a larger command-and-control problem created by wartime losses and prewar design assumptions.