i screwed up when i got my CV crew and my FP's only have +11 base skill, however with
enough vets and mouse clicks, you can use the IJN speed to kill off same Tier fighters
from any nation.

The advantages are as follows:

USN - Mary Sue fighters who have all national advantages at once.
IJN - Fast and has the most fuel their fighters tend to have more DP but less armour.
KM - Best armour and attack power.
MN - no national advantage fighter wise in theory they are supposed to be utterly average
in practice they get a +3 (2 national and 1 from special force promotion) they usually
beat IJN and UK 1 on 1 they also have better stats compared to RN.
RN - No advantage to speak off.


How to micromanage IJN fighters?

1 - Keep them tightely packed
2 - stay away from higher level CVs (especially USN and KM)
3 - If you absolutely must face a USN/KM CV then abuse tailshooting like there was no
tommorow. Drag drag drag if you stop your fighters will get minced in seconds. Hopefully
his fighters will break up so you can kill them off one by one.

IJN are fast (as fast as US) and have best fuel capacity (again similar to US). You don't
have nation bonus, so since CV patch there is a noticeable difference betwen UK,IJN and
US,KM (i dont know where is MN) in combat (US,KM>IJN,UK). You have to work little harder
than your KM,US opponent. According to that it would be good if you could have elite FT.
If there is about tacitic there is a thread in Tip and Tactics section.
I think you are mistaken about climbing/diving fireing, all ft can do that. Mayby you
didn't have lacky on your US.