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Pilot quality also matters. Charles Lindberg was a technical advisor for the military during WW2. "Lucky Lindy" got an F4U (not sure model) off the ground with a 4000 lb bombload. The jarheads he was "advising" at the time weren't too keen on trying it but they subsequently "upped the ante" for combat load on the F4U. He also flew a combat mission with some 5th AF guys in P-38Gs. They all returned from the mission with about a teaspoon and a half of gasoline left...he came back with 50 gallons. The settings he used for prop pitch and engine rpm were latter incorporated into USAAF doctrine and resulted in an increase in the "standard" operational range of not only that fighter but all others with similar controls.

(It might be noted that pilot quality was not emphasized much in the Kamikaze Corps )