Can Tac Bombers Escort a Bombing Raid, but choose not to bomb?

[surfer]

I’d like to use my tac bombers to escort a strategic bombing raid, but I only care about the factory. I’d like to send the tacs to escort the bombers (and take hits if the opponent scrambles), but I’m not interested in letting them be attacked by the facility AA especially since it doesn’t help me to hurt it (or at least minimal help).

TripleA doesn’t allow this option. The rules as I read them allow me to escort and bomb, but it doesn’t seem to address the option of going in as pure escort. Any help would be apprecieated.

[Panther]

@surfer
From the Rulebook, Pacific 1940.2, page 16:

“To conduct a bombing raid, the attacking player moves his or her bombers to the territory on the map containing the target(s).
A base may be both strategically and tactically bombed at the same time. Both attacking and defending fighters (not tactical bombers) can also participate in strategic bombing raids as escorts and interceptors. …”

So Tacs cannot be used as escorts.

[surfer]

Bummer. Ok. Thanks for the clarification

[Cornwallis]

@panther but what if you send them in to bomb an air or Naval base, then they do participate in the dog fight?

[Panther]

@cornwallis said in Can Tac Bombers Escort a Bombing Raid, but choose not to bomb?:

@panther but what if you send them in to bomb an air or Naval base, then they do participate in the dog fight?

Yes.