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In ops reports you can find messages about non-camera aircraft taking recon pictures. In my example, a non-camera Walrus II float-plane takes recon pictures of a Japanese LCU.

I guess it is a limitation of the game's engine - no pictures were taken, and the message really means that a pilot passed the following check mentioned on p.217 in the manual:

»»If a non-recon type plane is flying a Recon Mission, the percentage chance that any given unit will have its DL increased is equal to the Experience of the pilot divided by 2. If the DL is increased it will increase by 2.

(Alfred mentioned the check is against a pilot's Recon skill, and not his Experience)

Am I right?

Don't know about that one. I raised a similar issue with PBY Catalinas taking pictures when cameras are not part of their "load-out", and someone immediately posted a pic of a PBY crewman holding a large format camera at the blister window near the back of the aircraft.
So maybe the programmers used the historical precedent of hand held camera instead of pilot's skill in Recon? If the aircraft type shows a camera load-out it gets a higher recon boost because of its motor driven high speed camera with hundreds of frames of film available. Thus a hand held camera could be a lesser boost?

I see this all of the time. i just assume that they have a handheld camera. As BB stated....GP

My understanding is that bombers could and sometimes would carry cameras so they could watch the bombs fall and then hopefully explode on the target.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeDvY4s7KDc

RangerJoe wrote: Tue Apr 15, 2025 3:54 pm My understanding is that bombers could and sometimes would carry cameras so they could watch the bombs fall and then hopefully explode on the target.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeDvY4s7KDc

Arguably the most famous, the cameras aircraft that followed the Enola Gay, Necessary Evil.

btd64 wrote: Tue Apr 15, 2025 12:35 pm I see this all of the time. i just assume that they have a handheld camera. As BB stated....GP

Me too. As others have stated, these were fairly common use by all countries at that time. I suspect it was the reason GG added it in the original game. He's a pretty good game designer ....

Unfortunately and contrary to history it will give you not much.
It is one problems of the database, the editors did not added cameras to lot of aircraft that have them, starting with patrol aircraft. The biggest mistake is with submarine float plane Glen. This is a floatplane that was mostly used to recon ports and anchorages, in the game and contrary to history have a too good naval search capability and a too bad recon capability.

As a side historical note, none of Midway tripwire submarine was a floatplane equipped one.

Diliwitm wrote: Sat Apr 26, 2025 9:01 am Unfortunately and contrary to history it will give you not much.
It is one problems of the database, the editors did not added cameras to lot of aircraft that have them, starting with patrol aircraft. The biggest mistake is with submarine float plane Glen. This is a floatplane that was mostly used to recon ports and anchorages, in the game and contrary to history have a too good naval search capability and a too bad recon capability.

As a side historical note, none of Midway tripwire submarine was a floatplane equipped one.

You should know that whether a plane is good at NavSearch or Recon it more a factor of pilot skill, as opposed to aircraft type, consistent with this era. My Glens do a great job at recon when I want them to.

Contrary to recon aircraft with medium quality pilots a Glen with a good crew will never give you a 9 in recon.

Diliwitm wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 9:56 pm Contrary to recon aircraft with medium quality pilots a Glen with a good crew will never give you a 9 in recon.

Correct. Recon type planes give a bonus and a camera some more. However, you can hit DL of 9 with multiple Glens with decent crews ... and when you can't, DL of 6+ is fine for target that is +40 hexes away from you .... at least it is for me ...