In discussions between Chance Vought and the Navy Department, Bureau of Aeronautics in December 1945, it was verbalized that a sound policy of continuous improvement of the F4U-4 and the design of the F4U-5 airplane, which was to be improved to include a low drag wing, with the purpose to bring the top speed up to 500 mph should be pursued. The interest was driven due to the slow development and production of jet airplanes for the Navy. The need to stay competitive at the top end of performance with land based aircraft for Naval Air Forces was partially driven by the Kamikaze experience that was still fresh in the minds of the operational forces.
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