Flying Again

It was very important to Hughes to prove that he could still fly after his near fatal crash, for his own personal image of the daring aviator who had walked away from crashes, but also to dispel any doubts about his competence as a pilot. This flight was heavily publicized by Hughes PR people. The photos of Hughes show him haggard and drawn in his triumph. It was the severity of his injuries that occasioned his use of the pain-killers to which he became addicted.