When do escort fighters increase in numbers

[spence]

During the combat replay I see the number of escorting fighters decrease and then increase back to something close to the original number of escorts. I can see this when fighters are intercepting a raid that is attacking its own base but the decrease and then increase in fighters escorting the bombers to a different base seems illogical.

[bradfordkay]

The decrease is shown to be aircraft that abort due to damage or lack of ammunition. I've been assuming that the later increase is latecomers to the fray - aircraft that lagged behind for some reason.

[BBfanboy]

And in the air combat, some fighters escorting the bombers will move to intercept CAP fighters, then have to catch back up to the bombers to get into combat with another fighter. The screen only shows the ones in combat, not the ones climbing back up or trying to get into the furball.