The "golden years of aviation" There wasn't much "Golden" when you compare the accident rates over the preceding decades. Obviously technical advances have played a significant part in that improvement, but without doubt the greatest improvement has come about in our understanding and application of human factors.
Too many serviceable aircraft driven into the ground and sea by "ego" and "attitude" that went unchecked for far too long. "Prescriptive SOPs" and "Relevant training" and understand the limitations and application of those factors (which many don't) have been important and hugely successful drivers in improving those safety statistics.
Speaking as one who also grew up in some of those so called "golden years" one ingredient played a far more significant part than it ever really should have. That ingredient was "Luck!" Sadly, it had a tendency to run out rather too frequently.
The last 114 years have been a steep learning curve, and we certainly still have some way to go, but whatever the misty eyed "golden years" were famous for, safety wasn't one of them.