The early beacon systems were designed around multi-seat Fleet Air Arm aircraft with specialist crew. A navigation-trained observer normally performed the timing and bearing work, while a telegraphist air gunner could be trained as a substitute. The pilot remained occupied with flying the aircraft and had little attention to spare for a complicated radio-navigation drill. That division of labor explains how the older equipment could be effective despite being difficult to use. It also became a serious constraint as single-seat fighters grew more important. The later Type 72DP responded to changing aircraft and crew arrangements by moving more of the work into the shipboard system.
Notable Point · 15:00-16:24
Why early beacons depended on specialist aircrew
The Type 72X and 72DM assumed a trained observer or telegraphist air gunner could interpret the signal, an arrangement poorly suited to a busy single-seat fighter pilot.