Why was airpower so important for World War 2?

From the beginning of "seafaring history", the warship (the battleship), wooden or steel, ruled the waves. On 10 December 1941, that all changed forever. When the British Battleship and British Battlecruiser HMS Prince of Wales & HMS Repulse were sunk while underway and shooting back; by Japanese Army Bombers. From that day onward; Airpower ruled the seas (via the Aircraft Carrier).