Later references based on this source seem to have taken a wilder interpretation than what is logically justifiable. There are two theories about the origins of the ambiguous statement above. The second theory is that one of the earlier design concepts for the Executor really was five miles long, and somehow this old data was misapplied to the larger, final version. At one stage, Kenner considered including an item based on the Executor in their toy line. It is approximately eleven times the length of a star destroyer.
Executor represents the best and newest vessel available in the Imperial inventory.
This myth grew in parallel with the length error. For many years these books were the only significant STAR WARS product on sale. This defies maritime convention. The proper classname is based on the name of the first ship built according to the design. That being the Executor in this case, the designation should actually be Executor -class.