Aircraft choices follow naval doctrine

Do people underestimate the technical advances in naval aircraft between 1935 and 1945?

Yes, especially when they mistake speed for the whole of progress and ignore reliability, payload, endurance, carrier fit, and doctrine.

The Swordfish proved remarkably precise at Taranto despite its low speed, while its reliability, endurance, payload, and compact stowage were all operational assets. Speed and novelty were only part of technical advancement. British, Japanese, and American designs reflected different ideas about how their fleets would fight and what their carriers could sustain. An aircraft decision can therefore meet its stated requirements even when the doctrine behind those requirements later proves flawed.