Originally posted by Bosch232
I want to get into the "chessboard" aspect of the game, probably more so than just dogfighting. But I'm struggling to learn what's effective and what's not.
What I really want to do is play in the 'supporting cast' role: Fly in troops in C-47's, and bomb things into dust now and then. 
However, I seem to not grasp what situations warrant bombing missions, troops, supplies, etc. Besides just tagging along with other's missions, I myself would write missions as well. The problem is, I'm not sure what I'm doing is effective or useful.
GREAT question Bosch, and welcome to AH!
Airfields have ammo bunkers, fuel tanks, barracks, and anti-aircraft batteries.
Ammo bunkers look like concrete pillbox affairs. Try zooming in and about one of your own airfields. Also, if you look at the in-game airfield maps (small, medium, and large airfields) you can get an idea where they are along with all the other stuff (barracks, fuel tanks, and AA batteries) is too.
Barracks sport a camouflage paint job and look like Quonset Huts.
Fuel tanks are silver and have a truck or two parked near them.
Why's that important?
All those resources are vulnerable targets at airfields (with the exception of fuel -- sort of).
Let's say your field is just getting bombed into oblivion. You've no ordinance available because the ammo bunkers have been destroyed, neither have you troops available because the barracks are destroyed, you've no defensive anti-aircraft guns because they are knocked out, and the max fuel you can take is 75% because the fuel tanks are porked (A non-issue since 75% gas gets folks all over the place. There was a day when we could pork fuel down to 25%, but no more).
So what to do?
If you take out your foe's ammo bunkers, then they cannot loadout bombs from that airfield. They will probably do so from an airfield situated rearward. But the time it takes them to arrive may buy your guys some breathing space. Time to enough to get yourself and 3 or 4 buddies in a mission to resupply your ailing airfield with M3's or C-47s hauling Airfield Cargo which would bring your airfield back to normal.
Regarding barracks and the function they play in AH. No barracks means no captures and no resupplying. For example, A1 has no troops because you and your buds destroyed them all by bombing them and/or strafing them. That means no resupply nor captures can originate out of A1 until its barracks have come back up (2 hours -- unless the guys at A1 are a canny bunch an manually resupply via M3/C47 runs.)
I last played about 6 months ago. So unless something has changed that's how things worked. I love the strategic aspect of the game.
Sadly, for me and my ilk, and very happily for those who favor fighter action, fuel can no longer be taken out to 25%.
Focus on Ammo and Barracks. They're the plumb targets. Have to nail them all though. Leaving one up does not diminish an airfields capacities. Gets you some points, but does nothing to your foe.
Hope that helps.
P.S. Hangars (Fighter, Bomber, Vehicle) are also vulnerable. Knock one out, stays down for 15 mins. Many regard them as prime targets. Problem is 15 mins is a blink of an eye in AH. And you must nail them all. Leave one FH up, and fighters can still pour out of that base.
