P-38, I think

IMO the best fighter aircraft of WWII, they topped out in the 500mph
range, as fast as early Jets.

Was always my favorite WWII plane.

Love P38, especially when I found out they were an awesome plane to fly from the History Channel

Think they pushed the "prop" era about as far as it could go.. The Alison V's gave them a lot less frontal area, and as i understand it.. when the Brits changed from normal aspiration, to superchargers.. Least ive always heard Brits given credit.. will see how this thread plays out..

Course who's gonna argue with a blow job.. Ok my friends..see ya later..food time..

Yep, you are correct. The Brits did start the whole supercharger thing. No argument here bro!

From memory...no google tonight..Sorry!...superchargers fell under a "no export ban" during WWII, they were a "new concept" and top secret during the war....They were more like a centrifical supercharger, mechanicaly driven Turbo more than anything, as opposed to a "roots" type blower.
The superchargers were mounted in the tail "boom" behind each engine....hence the air scoops in the tail booms.

I am a "geek", I have an RC P-38, it hauls ass!!

the P-38's that were shiped to the brit's were sans BOOST! (superchargers). Naturally asperated..just like we "roll" today, even Isreal doesn't get "top of the line" shit!

The last production of the p-38,the P38L was capeable of 414 miles per hour, the earlier ones
ran around 395-400 mph.

Oddly enough if my memory is right, and with Hamp on the no wikipedia thing.. This is from a radial engine P47 thunder bolt. .. Im close on that but thunder bolt doesn't sound right.. hep.