The ideal situation would be to not be detected until your cv group is close to the base. Then you can launch attack aircraft (I like the F6F for this) to take out hangars (vh first and shore batteries if present) and cap the base and take out the town. Launch LVT's and take the base. If you can achieve air superiority over the base its a piece of cake. If not, there's a good chance you'll lose the CV.
If the CV is detected a ways off, and there is an active defense, they'll get your fighters in furballs over the water before you can hit the base. Best suggestion there is to have bombers make an end run from a land base to take out their FH's. (Obviosly that requires alot of organization, which can be hard to do in the MA.)