Carrier planes not good enough for aerial reconnaissance?

[DavidIsby]

The FAA's development of a PR capability has been documented, with pilots flying with RAF squadrons before flying modified Seafires and Hellcats in the Eastern and Pacific Fleets. One of the pilots involved, for those that remember 1970s British politics, was Tony Benn. Shipboard space and personnel for processing and interpreting films in required timeframes was a sticking point.

[Graham Boak]

A good point, but these types were used more in the FR or Tactical recce role rather than for the more strategic PR and mapping. The USN was not without its similar Wildcat and Hellcats for this role - the latter being identical to that used by the RN.

it is perhaps worth considering whether the camera-equipped Tigercat would not have filled the same role as the Myrt. Or indeed the Mosquito for the FAA, had it been considered sooner. But the FAA didn't have the same requirements for strategic recce and large-scale mapping.

However, none of these types could carry the large trimetron(?) cameras used by the US for mapping.

[Richard Aigner]

Gentlemen, thank you all for your input! Much appreciated.
Richard