We along with other Allied Powers Britain in particular lost too many of our heavy bombers during raids to Germany and surrounding occupied countries mostly as the result of overwhelming German fighter defense. Why were we so unprepared in providing long range fighter support during the outset of the bombing campaign?
You may want to look at these threads; http://www.ww2f.com/what-if-europea...t-atlantic/46481-he-100-instead-me-109-a.html http://www.ww2f.com/air-war-western-europe-1939-1945/44976-did-more-win-war.html http://www.ww2f.com/what-if-europea...c/41345-allies-never-get-air-superiority.html I think many of your questions will be answered in those hope this helps
And this one http://www.ww2f.com/air-war-western-europe-1939-1945/45266-bomber-defensive-gunnery-questions.html
Don the USAF rather dim willingly to admit it but they were not ready for a long push deep into Germany in 1942 so with regards to bomber escort they had to evolve using the P-38 and the P-47, only some time for the external fuel tanks in use to prolong and go after the LW over their own territory instead of turning around for England at the borders of France
