Just Leo I think you already know all this but I'm posting this comment for the other readers to consider. This was a view point I read on an old WW2 pilots board a few years ago.
In the ATL with the P-38s shortcomings eliminated or greatly reduced then the good results should be duly reported. The OTL P-38 struggled in the bomber escort role with the 8th air force. I could make a case that the problems the early model P-38s had meant that the plane was used as a scapegoat to explain the heavy losses the 8th's bombers incurred in 1943 and early 1944.
The bomber mafia would not admit they blundered in promoting the doctrine that the bomber would always get through and be able to protect itself adequately. They also ignored the experience learned in other theatres and by other air forces.
Eventually they changed the doctrine and got more escorts to protect the bombers. But it was claimed that the reason for the high casualties at the beginning was because the P-38 wasn't a reliable escort fighter, not because of their flawed doctrine which didn't order adequate numbers of suitable escort fighters. That was bad press.
The P-38 was a flawed and unreliable fighter in 1943 for that high altitude job but it wouldn't have required much effort to institute the needed improvements in 1943 if the political effort was applied.
The plane had a huge potential for improvement as seen in the P-38L or P-38K. A big success in all other theatres it just needed those few more changes in the 1943 production to provide the 8th air force with the reliable and improved P-38 escort. Something like a P-38L appearing in numbers in 1943 would have been a good thing.
