Proper use of fighters

[Rossinator]

Hi,

I saved up and bought the largest carrier I could find, and I bought 5 fighters. Immediately set out to continue the 2nd campaign. The problem is my fighters seem to get killed very frequently. Is this normal? How do you all use fighters? Or do you use them at all?

Seems very cost ineffective to use them the way I am. I launch them all and tell them to attack my target. Boom, boom, boom, and three are dead...

Thanks for any help.

PS: Love the game otherwise.