Luftwaffe drop tanks

[stona]

it does make sense. they could intercept further from their field and fly home faster than the bomber stream. IF the bombers were headed their direction they would be refueled and armed and back in the air with a chance to meet them but this time at a closer distance.

I can think of at least one occasion when that is pretty much what happened. On 13th April 1944 II./JG 27 (based at Erbenheim) and II./JG 53 (based at nearby Eschborn) managed to take off and engage US bombers on their way to attack Schweinfurt before returning to their own bases, rearming and refueling to take off and make a second attack, this time on the bombers withdrawing from attacks on Augsburg/Lechfeld/Oberpfaffenhofen.
Cheers
Steve