[pfflier]

The Germans and Japanese had no fear of the P-40. The P-39 underperformed at fighting altitudes but average below 10K AGL. The P-38 wasn't as maneuverable as the Zero or the Me-109 but was a devastating gun platform. The F-4F had the same flaws as the P-40 not agile but it had the same strengths too, rugged and heavily gunned.

The early strength of American fighters was their ability to absorb hits from opposing fighters. When armed with the 50 cal machine guns, they were also more lethal because of the amount of firepower they could muster on a target.

I left the P-36 out of the mix because it was mostly not a factor. Then there was the Brewster Buffalo...

[skeeter]

BTW the Russians loved the P39 as a low altitude ground support role. But in the air superiority role it stunk on ice.