Since we are sinking IJN CVs, the best thing would be to simply remove the aircraft from the flight deck. IJN CVs did not embark planes on the flight deck, they'd land, then they'd take an elevator ride below. If there are planes on the deck, they should either be taking off, or landing, if they are not actively doing either, they should be in the hanger.
The only real exception is the IJA CV in the game. That little guy is not an "escort carrier" but really a plane ferry ship. The rear of the flight deck should be packed with ARMY aircraft, when they get near the island base they are heading to, they fly them off to land on the island. They need to have an airgroup of no planes.
Note that this is even true of the famous Battle of Midway. There were virtually no aircraft on the flight decks of the 4 CVs when the SBDs appeared. Just a handful of CAP planes taking off oor landing. The strike planes were gassed up, bombed up, and warmed up below---so the bombs went into the hanger spaces where they hit crowded hangers filled with planes, gas, and bombs, all in an enclosed space. BOOM.
tater
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