P-51 Mustang vs Spitfire: Opinions However, many Spitfires went on to help train the next generation of fighter pilots, with many becoming incredibly familiar with the handling of the Spitfire. The Spitfire didn’t see anymore front line action after the end of WWII. Comparing the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito Multirole Heavy Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft against the Lockheed P-38 Lightning Single-Seat, Twin-Engine Heavy Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft. I am very interested in the topic of P-38 vs the Zero. British had at least two excellent twin engine designs that were hard to differentiate fighter or bomber, Mosquito and Beaufighter. “Neither P-38 pilots, mechanics, facilities or logistics were prepared to operate efficiently in one of the bitterest European winters on record [1943-44],” he noted. The P-38 could absorb a great deal of punishment and once speed was again built up, it could outrun the opposition; but during that time a P-38 pilot had attempted to maneuver with his lighter opponent, he was at the mercy of the enemy, for it required too much time for a P-38 to get into its turn, even with hydraulic boost on its ailerons. Its really inappropriate to try to compare WW 2 fighter aircraft. Allegedly, the "hit squad" that took out Admiral Yamamoto in 1943 was comprised exclusively of P-38's. I find the account of the attack implausible because the six zero's escorting Yamamoto's duel T1-323 transports were certainly not being flown by rookie pilots. Comparing the North American P-51 Mustang Single-Seat, Single-Engine Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft against the Lockheed P-38 Lightning Single-Seat, Twin-Engine Heavy Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft. Comparing the North American P-51 Mustang Single-Seat, Single-Engine Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft against the Supermarine Spitfire Fighter / Fighter-Bomber / Reconnaissance Aircraft. P-38 expert Warren M. Bodie wrote that the Lightning should have been converted from Allison to Merlin power, exactly as was done with the P-51.