As much as I love the Thunderbolt, the Mustang is objectively better:
- Lower manufacturing cost, better overall value than the Thunderbolt and Lightning.
-Had enough range to escort bombers for long distances, whether from England to Germany or Okinawa to Japan.
-Had enough performance and agility to tangle with late war axis fighters like the Fw-190D-9, Ki-84, and the Bf-109K-4.
- Excellent versatility and could carry bombs and rockets for CAS. Was proven effective in the CAS role, both in WW2 and Korea.