Simple utter novice question about ground support

[Phoenix100]

Just trying to dig my way into this, though I've had it a while, for some reason I underappreciated it. I'm reading all the excellent stuff in here, watching video tutorials, messing around with smaller games, perusing the manual, etc etc.

Just one little question, if anyone can help - how do I provide air support to a paradrop? The Air phase is first so I set up various directives, including a ground support directive for the para units HQ - in Westwall, for example, it's the First Allied AB US Army (based near London) which is HQ for all the pre-set-up MG drops. Then I execute air directives and only AFTER that do I get to stage my drops. Consequently, I suppose, I don't get any ground support during the drops. Anyone know how I can ensure that as the drops go in there are planes flying overhead to support them on the ground?

Many thanks.

[loki100]

you don't as such, due to the phasing. But if the paras land and are then attacked you do linked to their command/GS allocations.

two solutions:

a) try not to land on anything [;)]
b) run a GA-unit mission on the hex before commiting the paras, that should usefully degrade anything in the hex (even if not as valuable as a conventional GS mission)

[Phoenix100]

OK. Thanks. I was doing it right, then, for a change. Thanks.