My father bored some holes in the sky in the F7U, in both the
non-afterburner and afterburner versions, while CO of VX-5 in
'54-'55. Ray Hawkins ran the F7U program in the squadron. Got
some photos around here somewhere.

I've heard it said that the only reason the Navy bought the F7U was
to keep Vought in business until they could develop the F8U. Can't
vouch for that, though.

Rich