Nice and lively discussion we got here!
Like I said, I had some great flights with spit8 and spit9 against fw190s. Just gotta keep that energy up for various reasons. Primarily attacking with bnz, but it's also possible to execute many manouvers from higher speed than slower speed I feel. It gives you more options, to start from a higher E state, if you become defensive. Spitfire is so versatile aircraft, but bad thing is not so good dive capability. Otherwise it's quite good (later mark spits 8-14). I have a feeling that you might be better at diving, if youre against bf109, but the fw190 straight up outdives spit.
But I had a really great time on Skies of Valor last nite, with F4Fs out of all planes, vs zekes.
We had a pack of wildcats, ca. 8 guys in red TS channel, radio discipline was extremely effective although still relaxed enough. Situational awareness was as good as it gets (admittedly theres outside views and enemy views on that server too though)
First the zekes attack our carriers, we go into these lufbery circles and do our best at low alt turn fighting, we outnumbered them a little bit so we managed.
After that we got to like 3-4k, organized ourselves and started BnZing those zekes. We also drag-and-bagged a good bunch of them. Also a couple successful thach weave kills IIRC. It was so much fun!
P-38, I'd like to learn how to be more effective with it, but it's not that manouverable to be dead-honest. You just get out-rolled so easily, even in L late, and doesn't turn so good either. I wonder if it can even outrun anything the germans have, contemporary 190 and 109.
Trying to put the pipper on barrel-rolling 190, with a p-38, feels like exercise in futility LOL