A pilot would fly outward for about an hour carrying a torpedo, attack without defensive armament, and then return to the carrier. Forming the strike and preserving a return margin reduced the practical radius well below the aircraft's theoretical endurance. Planners considered fighter escorts as well as multi-crew guide aircraft carrying dedicated navigators to lead the single-seat formation. The plan paired a large coordination problem with a demanding solo mission for each Cuckoo pilot.
Chapter · 52:27-53:50
A Cuckoo pilot faced a hundred-mile strike alone
The Cuckoo's four-hour endurance translated into roughly a hundred-mile combat radius with single-seat pilots relying on escorts and navigation leaders.