boomerlu all the midwar and latewar planes did well against Japanese Aircraft. The simple fact is it was easier to damage
a Japanese Aircraft. They were generally slower, manufacutered poorly late war and could not in general keep up with US
aircraft in any way but maneurvability. The choice of Combat generally rested with US aircraft. They were faster, and more rugged.
When it was determined not to get into a turnfight with a zero, they were destroyed in great quantity.
Plus...the F6 was a great carrier plane generally fighting inferior aircraft. Same goes with the F4U. The ruggedness of the F4
and training of its' Pilots held the lines until the hellcat and Corsair came along. The P40B did very very well because of the use of tactics.
The F6 would not have fared as well in the ETO. The 38s were sent in large numbers to the PAC also and did well for the same reasons.
P38s squads in the ETO did not fare as well as those in the PAC also for obvious reasons as stated above. The 38 also had great range
and performed outstanding service in both theaters of war....but generally fared much better vs IJN and IJA aircraft then LW aircraft.
Late War in the PAC they had to ship P51s and the NJug to escort long range B29s which flew very high and were more suitable then
any other fighter in theater for that job.
