Glider said:
Wmax point about the P38 doing most roles with a different load I would disagree with. The P38 nightfighter, PR and bombers were all special builds. If I had to take a standard Mossie VI and Wmax A standard P38 and do a minimum conversion to fit the roles the Mossie would be a much easier task.
A It has 2 crew
B It has an internal bomb bay ideal for putting camerasm fuel tanks or electronic bits and pieces in.
There were night fighter P-38s before the M model without major mods as early as Guaglcanal. Their scores range from 6-36 kills, the limiting factor was not capability but the priority of use of the P-38s available. These same aircraft could be loadded with tanks or bombs the next day and used for any roll desired, even the M models whose modifications were a second seat, black paint and radar.
Recon P-38s were dedicated, yes, but again they could tote a full load if desired.
As for the Droop Snoot version, it was for lead planes in formation bombing and path finding only about 50 were made. The loads varied by model, 3,200lbs on the F models to 4,000lbs on the Ls (5,600lbs field load was common) but EVERY P-38 could carry at least 3,200lbs by hanging the load on the shackle, NO mods needed.
All P-38s except the recon and Drop snoot birds could do ALL the tasks on the same day(recon and droop snoot planes normaly did not have guns). Primarily, Mossies were built, not modified, to do their respective rolls. Modifications took days to months on the Mossie and minutes on the P-38.
The thing is the P-38 was a fighter/bomber the Mossie was a Bomber/fighter, each was better at that prime role. I think the P-38 was a little better bomber that the Mossie was as a fighter, so for me I would go for the P-38.
Lastly, I think they were both great but underated planes.
wmaxt