While all the above is true, you can have fighterpilots with 250vets and 365experts. Compared to 200vets and 300experts that gives a 24% higher ability. With that comes that you have to class the pilot later to ace and sq lead, which looses 9.5%. Still a win of 15%. Also he can have up to 3 seaman, adding something like 10-15%. So, if the fighter ability goes into the equation linear and there is no cap it is doable to hit 30% more ability with a hero fp. And that only if the bomber ability is not counting.

Also there are some cvs cruising around with pilots form eu server which can have 260vets on them and are said to be superior to anything that is raised on nfna.

What was the +-level for pilots to be used in a cv

The last time I did a real test on Seaman, they did stack ( that was a couple of years ago).

They don't stack linearly, but (from memory) a 2nd seaman added about 50% and a 3rd added less than that.

Dont expect to win with your fighters over me...

I'm not sure if following can eliminate your entire wave without losing one single plane but this will surely beat your fighters by far. And this is only the worst fighters in game, RN.

Oh and from my personal experience (not really verified)
1) When there is a lag your fighter aircrafts seem to be much less responsive and
2) Fighters coming from south seems to have more attack range from those coming from north; similar way as the shell range goes

Above also may be the reason why your fighters got wiped out.