Rutland's aerial sighting at Jutland

Rutland and his observer sighted three German cruisers and five destroyers of the Second Scouting Group, which screened Hipper's battlecruisers. Their Short 184 sent several reports back to Engadine, making the flight the first heavier-than-air reconnaissance of an enemy fleet in action. A ruptured fuel line ended the airborne portion after twenty-nine minutes. The crew repaired the aircraft and reported that it could take off again, but they were ordered to taxi back for recovery instead. The reconnaissance succeeded, although aircraft fragility and command caution limited the operation.