The p38's all get pilot wounds because of how the damage model is set up,the '38's cockpit has only 3 major damage hit box's pilot and gear/guns "well you can cound each gun and its hit box,but i only count the pilot, gear and the total nose weapon system"
chances are,if any shots hit the window,or under the pilot,you will be killed,or suffer pilot wounded.
if the bullets hit your "nose" from above your gonna take major weapon damage,point being, the pilots in p'38's are the thing to aim for,granted pilot's are located almost perfectly in the center of the planes shape,anyone with a .50 can take out a '38.
p38's have two easy spots to hit,the wingtips and the main cockpit, in a head on if you come off at 400 and fire at the wing tip area as you split s and come back around,you should manage some damage,if the p38 comes back around,aim for hit cockpit,if anything your ammo will miss and hit some other "semi" vital plane part,such as engines, rudders,elivator control,and semi system because the p38 has x2 of each basic sub system, x2 rudders, x2 elivators, x2 engines, so it can soak up alot of damage,but each vital hit makes it less and less combatable.
even if you end up dieing, at least he wont come out of the fight unharmed.
If you get a jump on the '38 from under or above, aim for the little cockpit pod,you will kill him very quickly,even x2 .50's on a sbd can bring a '38 down.
Sometimes amazeing how little damage can be done to a p38 from 800 yards out,and resaults in a pilot being killed "they blow up instantly"
I just think its how the plane was set up. and also i know the p38's get pilots wounded alot in janes ww2 fighters, WB. Euro air war, b17 mighty eighth, cfs, fighter ace, maby it was just something that happend alot to p38's
