<S> Omega!
I just found a good tactic that will counter the possibility of the Axis delaying their attack. We launch all our fighters at T+0 and climb at 135 mph, at 50% throttle. At 50% throttle we have fuel for 3 hours, can keep an average climb rate of 750 ft/min and can reach 24000 ft altitude. As such if they delay their attack even for as much as 30 minutes, then we'll still be at 80% fuel and above 20 000 ft when the call for an incoming attack reaches us. That's much better than scrambling from the ground at 0 ft altitude and then panic climb towards the enemy.
<S>
/Robert