Howard Hughes sits at the controls of his 400,000 pound Flying Boat just a day prior to its first tests in the Los Angeles Harbor in California. The aircraft was 219 feet long with a wing span of 320 feet.
The black and white view of a crowd of people surrounding the Lockheed 14 aircraft at the Le Bourget Airfield in France. Text printed on accompanying strip of paper: "Howard Hughes' Lockheed surrounded by a great crowd at Le Bourget Field, Paris, as his crew disembarked after their flight from New York. July 1938."
Description given with photo: "Man of the Hour, Los Angeles: Howard Hughes, for whom a subpoena was issued calling for his (?) appearance is Washington, is shown immediate candid shots as he spoke to newsmen. Three wealthy plane manufacturer said he has already put $7,000,000 of his own money into the still unflown 200-ton flying boat which is currently being investigated by a senate subcommittee, and would put in much more before construction is completed. Credit (ACME) 8/3/47."