Ive dived into CVs from 6,000' to 20,000' and have had everything you can imagine happen from every initial altitude.
I almost always dive alone, which is always an adventure, because all the flak and gunners have you in their sights. And diving alone into a completely undamaged CV group is the ultimate adventure.
Sure you can release from up high but the odds of causing damage are low. The thing is probably turning and timing 2 bombs to hit perfectly from 10,000' is difficult. Its hard enough hitting a sharp CV driver from B-26 formations with 25 500lbs from 10,000', "Heres a hint, 75% of the time they turn the CV left".
So now if you want to hit the thing from a dive bomber you have to release from about 5,000'. By the time you pull up your probably 2,000' to 3,000' right in the CV group. This is why many a wiley Jabo driver will take out the cruiser first. Because you thus take out much of the CVs protection, as well as opening an egress lane for other Jabos to take out of the CV group.
I used to slaughter CVs wholesale with B-26s but got out of that game. I dont need the bomber perks and I felt I was ruining to much fun of others by killing the things all the time, especially when they are in transit.
By dive bombing a lone Jabo into a undamaged CV group? Its not often I can do it, while scoring hits, and emerge undamaged enough to continue fighting. So with me the first rule is to drop low enough to ensure hits. 2, Take out the CG first.
