Every 109 except the K-4, turns better than every P-38 except the G. The equalizer working in favor of the P-38, however, is that the inherent stability of that plane allows it to pull very tight angles in the shortest possible execution time, whereas a 109 requires to be 'nursed' into maneuvering into very tight angles. An adept pilot can shorten the required time to do so, but in many cases that still isn't enough to really match the P-38 during maneuvering.
Another problem is that the inherent stability of that torqueless freak, allows it to pull its nose up at even extremely low speeds. This becomes a problem when you're fighting in the vertical.
Against most enemies a 109 pilot can feel more or less confident about the moment when he's gained the final edge he needs for getting the critical upperhand after the merge. Draw the fight into the vertical against a - let's say - P-47 or a P-51, and after a few minutes your superior acceleration and climb puts the enemy under you at 600~800 yards. They'd love to take a pot-shot at you, except they can't pull their noses up to fire at you. Then you reverse over the top, and blast away.
Now, against a P-38, this rarely works. You know you've gained the upperhand in the E fight - except, despite extreme low speeds and disadvantaged E state, the P-38 will rear its head up like a snake, and take a shot at you, and good pilots do connect that 600yard shot. (That's when things start going really pissy, and you feel that urge to rant about AH and its damned long-range gunnery.. but that is another story..)
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Ultimately, for the average 109 pilot of AH, the best method is to stick to the classic 109 'hunting' tactics:
- The practical hunting tactics for the average 109 pilot who can't do that 'vet' stuff -
(1). Approach with some amount of E advantage in the first place. Don't kid yourself that you can squeeze yourself into an E advantaged position during the fight itself - it doesn't happen. You may be able to do that against Spitfires or P-51s or N1K2s, but it doesn't work against La-7s(outaccelerated) or P-38s(torqueless freaks).
(2). Getting a P-38 coming down on you, is definately a no-no. When a P-38 comes down and lands behind you at 800yards, don't ever expect to you can actually outmaneuver him or something. Centerline 50cal+20mm armament isn't something you'd like to take chances against. If the P-38 is indeed such a superior plane as some claim, then there's no shame in just buggering out of the fight and seeking help from your friends - especially if a good pilot is inside that freak. Maybe after a while he'll PM you about how weak you are, or how you aren't going to learn anything, and blah blah blah blah blah with the vet-trash lingo, but hey, you aren't obliged to become cannon fodder for free. In most cases those vet-guys just hate coming down low into the fray, and they'll give up the chase farely soon.
(3). In other words, don't ever meet a P-38 that is higher than you alone. Do what the P-38 guys themselves do - just go away when there's a higher bogey that may force you down low into the hellpot of a furball. Just move away, come back later with more alt. The chances are, when that happens the other guy will just back away too. Happens all the time. Remember again, that you aren't obliged to do anything - especially charge into a fight you know you are disadvantaged in the first place.
(4). If you do have a good amount of E advantage, hunt and corner the P-38 to the best of your knowledge. The 109 is at its best somewhere between that lazy, half-witted Bore-n-zooming and the brainless, point-and-click turning fest of a fight.
(5) The P-38 is great in verticals, but that doesn't mean it can just shake away a disadvantage in E. Approach and dive attack, but mind your pull-out flightpath. Don't ever do that BnZ thingy where you take a dive at him and then bugger away out of his icon range - if you wanted to do that you should have upped a P-51 or a 190D.
(6) Take a poke at him, make him turn, loop, or do whatever he thinks he can do, and then, while he is recovering from the maneuver, take another poke so he is forced to maneuver prematurely before recovering much of his E. To do this, you have to constantly stay inside at least 2.0k distance. If the distance is further than 2.0, the P-38 has enough time to recover most of his E. This actually needs some experience, since if you don't do this right, that "2.0k" can quickly turn into "400" with him behind you.
(7) If you pushed him down towards the deck, then you've half succeeded. Tighten your grip a bit more and keep conscious of the moment when you'll commit. Remember - once committed, there's no turning back, and one of you is going to get shot down. Usually, even if at deck, the first few moments the P-38 still has enough E to pull some wild reversals and loops on you. Corner him a bit more, so he starts to show signs of really straining at low speeds to do that loopy stuff he does. When you see that happen, that's the time for you to commit. Dump all the extra E that makes you prone to overshoots, land behind him and start matching his turns for the kill.
(8) Or a popular alternative, is to approach slightly higher with really really high speed, and then go all vertical on him. Many P-38 pilots have that charactersitic overconfidence in verticals - and if they see a 109 trying a merge, and then go vertical, their first instinct is to follow it. It's like running around a dog - when a dog sees you run, he's gonna chase you. However, the dog does the same thing even if you're driving a car - despite the fact that dogs cannot catch cars. So, act as if you're wanting a merge. When the two planes brush by, go into an immelmann, and the P-38 will follow you. This is why you need so much more speed than normal circumstances - his instinct is going to make him try and follow any immelmann he sees. And when he does, you've got the rope-a-dope on him. At best, you're gonna shoot him down. At worst, you've got him stalling under you and you're on the offense.
Stick to the above tips, and most P-38s won't bother you... If some of the better pilots are involved, then you shouldn't be flying around those guys in the first place. They have this nasty attitude of a drunken father who beats his child with belt buckles for "education". Remember - if you want to learn anything, learn by winning, not by losing.
