Why the F-35B could fight wartime aircraft

Would an F-35B be useful against carrier aircraft from the Second World War?

Yes; its ability to fly slowly enough to engage propeller aircraft makes it unusually suitable among modern jet fighters.

The F-35B is one of the few current fighters able to slow sufficiently for a useful engagement with Second World War aircraft. It would not need to accept a turning fight on equal terms because its sensors and performance let it choose when to attack. The low-speed requirement nevertheless matters when the targets are much slower than modern jets. This complements the later helicopter comparison by showing how speed mismatch can complicate even a technologically dominant interceptor.