My question regards aircraft survival after naval battles. Specifically, how far surviving defenders may move to land.
If the defender wins the engagement and all attackers are destroyed, and the defender has no carriers left… the planes must find a friendly spot to land. I believe the rulebook says they may move 1 space to find a friendly territory or carrier. Does this mean that (if they are initially in an SZ without a friendly island) they may move to an adjacent SZ and then land on a friendly island there, or a friendly territory bordering that SZ? Because they are technically moving only ONE space, although it is actually 2 movements.
Or can the defending planes only make ONE movement? For example, US attacks Japanese fleet in Philippines. US controls the island. US fleet destroyed, Jap fleet destroyed. Japs have 2 fighters left. Are they now lost because they cannot land by making only ONE movement?
Or are they able to move out of the Philippine SZ and then land in, say, China or Kwangtung (I do not have a map in front of me… whichever boarders the SZ adjacent to the Philippine one)? Or may they move out of the Philippine SZ and land on a friendly island, in an adjacent SZ?
Thanks - - - LHoff