Admiral Henderson survives into the Second World War

What would Admiral Reginald Henderson's most important impact have been if he had lived through the Second World War?

He likely would have resisted Churchill's carrier pause, protected naval aviation programs, and later exerted major influence over postwar fleet reconstruction.

In this counterfactual, Henderson would likely resist the carrier-construction pause and could also limit the interruption to capital-ship work. The suggested compromise completes the first three King George V battleships at the existing rate, pauses the last two, and finishes the Illustrious class. A forward aviation support ship is another possible survivor of the construction program. Henderson is also imagined opposing the use of fleet carriers such as Ark Royal, Courageous, and Glorious for submarine hunting. A fleet command and eventual appointment as First Sea Lord could give him further influence during and after the war, although the sequence around Cunningham remains uncertain. The postwar argument favors new Malta-class carriers over attempting to repair and retain older war-damaged ships.