Doogs I haven't heard that one, FWIW. American Night Fighter had to start with the completely misbegotten Douglas P-70 variant of the A-20. They suffered something like a 30% loss rate in training before even going overseas. In the ETO they were initially equipped with a mixture of Beaufighters and Mosquitos, the Beaus because they weren't of interest any longer to the British as bombers or fighters.
I can't think of cases I've read where a Squadron really had much say about what they were issued. But the germ of a NF is loiter time. Eight hours in the air, fully armed, is a given. Mosquitos did not have that kind of duration.
In any case, the P-61 could outfly quite a few fighters. It could turn inside a P-47 and had lighter wing loading, although a Jug could certain do most everything else better.
If I had to pick a fighter from world war 2, I would say the P-47. Ugly ***, but big powerful and manueverable. I am a fan of Republic.
I don't have a favorite aircraft, there's too many to choose from.
Tank, the T-34. Probably because I don't know squat about tanks, but it is a super concept. I've wargamed with them, and if you have enough of them they'll get the Jerries every time.