No the article is basically correct. McGuire preached and preached to new pilots in theater to never, never attempt a high speed turn with the drop tanks on.
While correct that the Japanese pilot was one of the best that the Japanese still had, McGuire in his haste to assit the wingman entered a high speed turn with the tanks on. At the low altitude they were at it proved fatal.
FWIW according to some witnesses McGuire had pulled the ship out of the stall and was attempting to regain altitude but regrettably was to low to make it work.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Since he didn't need the extra fuel to reach friendly territory, I would think failing to drop tanks the moment a pilot realized combat was imminent suggests he believed himself good enough and/or in advantageous enough of a position that he could take the opponent and still have plenty of fuel remaining for more hunting. And that's how I always read the account, as a hunting trip.