The latter two companies withdrew from the competition fairly quickly, and on September 6, 1940, preliminary contracts were signed with Boeing and Consolidated (later Convair) for the construction and testing of first two and then three prototypes.
Study projects were presented by: Boeing, Consolidated, Douglas and Lockheed. Such a project was launched in early 1940 by General Henry Arnold.
When it turned out that such a plane could also be used over the Pacific, the designation VLR (Very Long Range) seemed more appropriate. The outbreak of World War II made USAAF strategists realize that they should focus on long-range bomber projects identified as VHB (Very Heavy Bomber).
