There was a post-Tokyo plan, if I recall. However their carrier, the Hornet, was spotted by a Japanese picket boat and the planes had to launch early. So a longer than planned flight meant less fuel to get to China after their run. It also did not help that the communications inside of free China of their mission was poor and a recovery plan was spotty.
You’re right; the Japanese screen had seen the carrier and they launched early. Even those that reached “free China” had navigational issues in the dark, and the crews bailed out as they ran out of fuel. I don’t know how much those crews knew about their chances of getting back alive, but definitely one of the gutsiest missions...