fighter protection of naval units w/transports

[training_wheels]

Whenever I place a fighter or tac-bomber over some naval vessels with a transport in the fleet, they become cargo for the transport as opposed to flying protection. Will they still function the same as they would if there were no transports? How can I position air defense for fleets if they have transports?

[Lucky1]

The air units only become cargo if they a) have no supply or b) are going beyond their air range. As cargo, they offer no support in a fight and are dead meat of the tranny goes down. Furthermore, they are useless the next turn, as they do not rebase.
 
The computer sometimes makes this mistake - usually off the coast of the USA. Dunno why....