Wildcat energy fighting and mutual support against the Zero

The Wildcat could be effective in the Pacific when its pilots used the aircraft tactically. The Thach Weave gave supporting fighters opportunities to spot an attacker approaching from another direction. A Zero could break off, but doing so left the American aircraft alive. In individual combat, energy fighting could also let a Wildcat put pressure on a Zero. It needed sufficient speed to do that, without necessarily being faster than its opponent.