The reason I picked the Spitfire as number one as its overall performance (speed, climb and maneuverability) + its reliability was IMO the best of the group. Its range of 434 mls. on internal fuel was mediocre, but with external fuel it reached 980 mls.
I chose the P-38G-1 for the same reason. In the following comparison of P-38G-1 No.42-12687 report dated 10 February 1943 and (P-51) No.41-37320 tested between Aug.'42-Jul.'43 the following can be seen. The mustang holds a slight speed advantage up to 17,000 ft., but the P-38 has about a 1,000 fpm climb advantage in low supercharger and about 2,000 fpm climb advantage above that.
P-38G-1 No.42-12687 (P-51 No.41-37320)
Altitude/Speed/Climb
Meters/mph/fpm
S.L......344/3300.(359/2300)
1,000..352/3500.(367/2485)
2,000..359/3650.(375/2650)
3,000..367/3650.(383/2650)
4,000..374/3550.(387/2315)
5,000..384/3400.(385/1445)
6,000..394/3300.(381/1145)
7,000..404/3000.(373/-840)
8,000..402/2500.(360/-530)
9,000..397/2200.(329/-250)
Maximums: 404 mph./22,600 ft. and 3,660 fpm./6,000 ft. (390 mph./12,650 ft. and 2,790 fpm./8,940 ft.)
Time to altitude in feet:
..5,000 ft./1.71 (2.0) min.
10,000 ft./2.81 (4.0) min.
15.000 ft./4.21 (6.5) min.
20,000 ft./5.68 (10.0) min.
25,000 ft./7.36 (14.6) min.
30,000 ft./9.46 min.
35,000 ft./12.48 min.
Ceilings
Combat (1,000 fpm): 35,910 (21,490) ft.
Operational (500 fpm): 37,725 (26,275) ft.
Service (100 fpm): 40,000 (31,300) ft.
Engine power used in tests: 1,320 hp.@ 48"Hg x 2 (1,220 hp.@ 47.2"Hg)
Range Clean: 850 (740) mls.
Range Maximum: 1,670 (1,230) mls.
Armament: 1 x 20mm/150 rds. + 4 x 0.5in./500 rpg. ( 4 x 20mm)
Test Weight: 13,900 (8,824) lbs.
Rate of roll:
P-38 had very slow acceleration into the roll, but could reach about 37 deg./sec./150 mph. 73 deg./sec./275 mph. 44 deg./sec./400 mph.
P-51's roll increased with speed. 41 deg./sec./150 mph. 73 deg./sec./275 mph. 86 deg./sec./400 mph.
Wing Loading: 42.44 (37.87) lbs./sq.ft.
Power Loading: 5.256 (7.23) lbs./hp.
In 1943 the Mustangs Allison engine changed supercharger gearing from 8.77:1 to 9.6:1 in the new V-1710-81 giving it a super boost, but that was 1943.
Jeff.
Note: The P-38 test vehicle was lighter than a normally equipped G-1 for combat. It only had 2 x 0.5in machine guns.