The Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection depicts the activities of businessman Howard Hughes from 1930 to 1950. The photographs primarily depict aircraft flown by Hughes or designed by the Hughes Aircraft Company, including the XF-11 reconnaissance plane, the HK-1 Hercules (or "Spruce Goose"), and the Hughes H-1 Racer. The photographs also depict celebrations following Hughes's circumnavigation flight in New York City, New York and Chicago, Illinois in 1938. Lastly, the photographs include Hughes testifying in front of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program in 1947.
The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: ""The End of Hughes' Record-Smashing World Flight, New York City: Howard hughes' giant Lockheed taxiing down the runway at Floyd Bennett Field, July 14, at the end of the record-smashing flight around the world. The plane came to a rest at the field with Hughes and his picked crew of four just 3 days, 19 hours, and 14 minutes after it had taken off from the field on its flight around the world. Credit line (ACME). 7/14/38. IA For.""
Description given with photo: "Howard Hughes Is Asked About His XF-11 By Senator! Culver City, Calif. - Millionaire plane builder Howard Hughes, left, is asked about his controversial XF-11 photo reconnaissance plane, background, by Senator Harry Cain, right, Republican of Washington. Cain is member of the Senate War Investigating Committee, and inspected Hughes craft after the plane builder had test flown the ship. An earlier model of same design nearly cost Hughes his life when it crashed in Beverly Hill last winter. Note wind-blown hair on both Pilot Hughes and observer Cain. Photo by Felix Pagel. 8/16/47."
The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Howard Hughes lands at Floyd Bennett Field. 7/38."
The black and white, aerial view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "All Roads Lead to Field as Hughes Arrives, New York City: This striking air-view shows the thousands of cars lined up at Floyd Bennett Field, July 14th, after they had disgorged their occupants who took part in the great ovation accorded Howard Hughes and his gallant crew of four as they arrived at the end of their record-smashing flight around the world. The cars in the foreground are still streaming into the already crowded parking spaces. Credit Line (ACME). 7/14/38. (SS)."