Transcribed from back of photo: "Howard Hughes (in cockpit) warms up the XF-11 for its initial test flight. It is one of the world's fastest long-range photographic planes, July 7, 1946."
Description given with photo: "Losing Money on Flying Boat, Says Hughes, Culver City, Calif.: Howard Hughes (center, facing camera) makes his first appearance before the press since the start of the senate investigation into his multi-million dollar plane contracts. Hughes said the government is getting its $18,000,000 worth out of his big, eight-engined flying boat but he's losing money. the plane has yet to be flown. Credit (ACME). 7-30-47."
From the Howard Cannon Photograph Collection (PH-00192). Left to right are R. W. Notti (Assistant City Manager), A. H. Kennedy (City Manager), Cannon, Shirley Ballinger (City Clerk), Mayor C. D. Baker, Commissioner E. W. Fountain, Commissioner Reed Whipple, Commissioner Harris P. Sharp, and Commissioner Wendell Bunker.