How could fighters escort a longer-ranged Helldiver strike?

If Helldivers outranged fighters carrying bombs, how could their strikes have fighter protection?

The escort fighters could carry extra fuel tanks instead of bombs, allowing them to accompany the Helldivers while the bombers carried the strike load.

A bomb-loaded fighter could carry nearly as much ordnance as the Helldiver but could not take it as far. That comparison raised an objection about fighter protection for the longer strike. Escort fighters could exchange their bombs for extra fuel tanks and accompany the Helldivers. The formation would then divide bombing and protection between aircraft carrying different loads.