I don’t understand how you get an issue with surviving planes in Triple A.
Usually, on defense, you get the opportunity to land surviving planes 1 movement from actual SZ, hence England.
However, if a Japanese bomber is within range of an only TPs SZ, you must say goodbye to them…
The best all-around naval fodder is Destroyer.
Combining DD defense @2 and 1 hit for each 8 IPCs is the best.
However, you may built planes in TT, then latter built Carriers when you have enough to fully load them.
Built 2 US Fighters (and 1 Carrier in East Coast SZ), and fly them on a just built UK Carrier.
That way, each round you may buy a 14 IPCs UK and fully load with 20 IPCs US Fgs.
You don’t have to built 1 DD at a time.
You may keep 16 IPCs 1 turn, then next built 2 DDs+ 1 Carrier which receive 2 US Fgs.
So, in a single round, UK’s SZ have 5 hits, for 50 IPCs. (30 from UK, 20 from US). A11 D14
Or, you may hold 22 IPCs (Carrier+ 1 DD) an additional round.
It would provides 2 Carriers, 4 US Fgs, 3 DDs = 9 hits, 92 IPCs A11 D14+A9 D12= A20 D26
With 11 DDs only, 88 IPCs gives A22 D22 and it is slightly weaker than above fleet, but 4 IPCs cheaper.
Germany will not be able to overcome such fleet without loosing almost or all planes.