I suggest you try the Yak-3, La-5FN, and La-7. They can outturn anything, and have a good speed. The Yak-3, is actually faster than the La-5FN, and just a little below the La-7. It also has a better turning radius and such than the La-5FN or La-7. Any of those planes are good for down on the deck dogfighting/chases.
As for tactics, always keep your head on a swivel, and don't fly in the combat zone for more than 30 seconds. You'll become food if you do. Always keep turning and moving as well as you can. Like said before, don't keep going after one target. If you see another enemy closer, go for him. You never know if you have a tail, which luckily when I went after a closer target, my tail wasn't expecting is, and lost me
So also, you can fake your enemy out by diving towards the ground and then pulling up before you hit the ground, that always works for me.