When aircraft move into a territory (or sea zone) containing enemy fighters, the enemy fighters have the option of intercepting or letting them go. When an interception is chosen, air combat occurs. Air combat is fought in the same manner as land combat with the exception the both the intercepting fighters and the attacking aircraft use their attack values as their combat rating. Remember, that bombers always have a combat value of 1 in air combat. Air combat unfolds in the following order:
Step 1) Both sides roll a D10 for every aircraft they have in the combat. All fighters fight using their attack ratings. Bombers use their defense rating. Any unit that rolls equal to or less than its combat value will score 1 “hit” against the opposing force.
Step 2) Both player remove one aircraft for each “hit” scored against them by the opposing player.
Step 3) Each plane removes 1 fuel point. Those planes which must disengage from battle for lack of fuel points must leave the battle and be flown to a friendly controlled territory within range (fuel points remaining). Intercepting aircraft may expend all of their fuel points in this battle, since once they disengage they need only land in the territory that is under attack. The attacking player may now decide to retreat and end the battle. If he chooses to remain and the intercepting player still has fighters remaining, then repeat steps 1-3.
If the active (player currently taking his turn) has aircraft which are intercepted and successfully defeats or merely outlasts (has a lot more fuel points) the intercepting aircraft, then the mission the aircraft had originally been sent on to fulfill for the active player may continue, assuming those planes still have enough fuel points remaining to do so. This could mean moving beyond the territory the air combat took place in to do a tactical and resource bombing mission, or merely to attack the territory that the air battle occurred in. Special Note: Attacking aircraft which are intercepted and engaged in battle do NOT receive the trench penalty to their attack value for the purposes of the air combat only.
