However, you should know that Spit IXs were fitted with altitude specific Merlin variants, & if flown in A2A combat at those actual operational sortie heights,
the apparent P-38 advantage would vanish..
So let me get this straight, it's unfair to compare the Spit IX to the P-38 when equipped with an altitude-specific Merlin that puts the Spit IX at a disadvantage, but TOTALLY acceptable when you're talking about doing the opposite, and how another aircraft is vastly superior to the P-38 in an altitude range for which the 38's engine is not tuned?