[DesertRhino]

Might be a kernel of truth to the story, but in the history of the ETO, there was never a P-38 that could outmaneuver a Zero or Oscar… didn’t happen. The 38s ran up big scores with energy tactics, not maneuvering fights.

The internet is suddenly filled with these “one weird trick” and “Japanese we’re terrified of the 1911 pistol and here’s why” stories of WWII. They are morality fables about how one lowly soldier suddenly won the war and left the engineers in slack jawed amazement.

These fables were everywhere in the USSR.

[PeterPrinciple]

The internet is suddenly filled with these “one weird trick” and “Japanese we’re terrified of the 1911 pistol and here’s why” stories of WWII.

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That is a good observation. And they all have the same content with a different subject.

AI?

[PeterPrinciple]

Might be a kernel of truth to the story, but in the history of the ETO, there was never a P-38 that could outmaneuver a Zero or Oscar… didn’t happen.

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Never said it did, but implies it.

Better is still better. little things added up.

[PeterPrinciple]

Might be a kernel of truth to the story,

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Adding racing stripes to the hood of my car added at least 10 horse power when I was young.

If the pilots thought it made a difference, it did in their mind. Hawthorne effect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_effect

[Alas Babylon!]

If ETO stands for European Theater Operations, then I think no Japanese Zeros or Oscars would have been an issue...

Or perhaps I misunderstood what you mean by ETO.