Lockheed did well with the P-38 series by improving it in incremental steps. The XP-49 was a disappointment but I see the XP-58 as a disaster! Look at the size of it, not only 37mm cannons forward but a 75mm too – along with a rear gunner with four .50 calibre machine guns. What were they (or whoever wrote the specification requirements) thinking?

With that firepower it’s a wonder they didn’t put it in the “Attack” category with the Douglas A-26 Invader and the Beech XA-38 Grizzly…a Beech 18 looking aircraft with a75 mm gun and six .50 cal machine guns, four in a remote top turret. Powered by twin 2,300 hp engines it has a gw of 36,000 lbs and a top speed of 330 mph. Oh oh, I probably gave the OP his next subject for another “secret” warplane. 🙂