Merlin engined P-38

[Auravir]

Would it have worked if the P-38 had been fitted with Merlins? It would have made the plane considerably faster, maybe even faster than the P-51. Is there any reason why the P-38 was not fitted with Merlins, or did the US just not want to bother now that they had the P-51 as the perfect escort fighter? Did they think the P-38 was already superior enough over the Zero and there was no need to improve it more? Was there a later version that I haven't heard of that was fitted with Merlins?

Thanks in advance

 

[Colin1]

I know of rumblings of a P-38K, did a search and found this straight away

The P-38K

 

[Auravir]

Ok, thanks. I must have missed it when I searched. I found some other sites, but they didn't answer all my questions

 

[Messy1]

That's a great link Colin! What could have been? Too bad.

 

[Thorlifter]

Very informative article. Thanks for the link Colin.