For me (not to avoid COMBAT) why should our squad up buffs only to be seen 20 sectors away, fly 2hrs just to get jumped by 100 152's, 262's, 163's, and many more fighters whom only have to put in about 20 minutes of flight time. So what I am saying is whats the point if your seen on dar bar 
Absolutely False, well sorta. I have already led at least 4 consecutive bomber missions to the strats and back to land most of our pilot's bombers (b17s and b29s). Albiet you need to be sneaky in the raid, minimizing dar bar and direction of travel, and having the appropriate altitude and fuel to survive long enough for primary escorts to do their job to allow you to survive just until relief escorts along your egress home route to get you all the way home. Escorts are KEY in strat missions, or you'll get jumped by the determined fighter eventually.
Just last night I had almost two full Bishop Dars trying to climb up to my B29 raid, however friendly escorts came just in time to tie them up long enough for ALL bombers to make it home safely <S>
