Welcome back to Ready 4 Pushback! Host Nik Fialka welcomes Stan Fisher — Naval Academy professor, PhD, aviator, and author of Sustaining the Carrier War — for a deep dive into the untold story of aircraft maintenance during World War II. Together, they explore how the U.S. Navy transformed from a fledgling aviation force in the 1930s into a dominant carrier-based power in the Pacific. Stan takes us beyond dogfights and carrier landings to uncover the vast network of training schools, technical manuals, and industrial support that made sustained naval airpower possible in the Pacific theater. From corrosion control and carrier operations to industrial mobilization, this conversation highlights the innovation and grit that made victory possible.

What You'll Learn in This Episode: How naval aviation evolved in the 1930s and 1940s The overlooked role of maintainers and enlisted technicians in WWII The Navy’s shift from wood to metal aircraft — and the challenges it brought The development of maintenance protocols and standards How logistics and training paved the path to victory The contributions of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) program Some legendary Pensacola aviation lore (yes, Trader Jon’s gets a shout-out!)

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