Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Attending a banquet in honor of Howard Hughes were L to R: Mayor Frank Shaw of Los Angeles, Howard Hughes, Will Hays, and Gov. Frank Merriam."

Transcribed from press release attached to back of photo: "NEW PHOTO PLANE TEST-FLOWN CULVER CITY, California, July 7 -- Howard Hughes, who designed and built the new FX-11 reconnaissance plane in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers, sits in the pilot's bubble-glass canopy preparing for the first test flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photo planes, the XF-11 can attain a speed of more than 400 miles per hour, Army officials said. It is powered by two 3000-horsepower radial engines with eight-bladed contra-rotating propellers. Outstanding features include a full-span flap, unique eight-camera layout, and exceptionally fast take-off." Transcribed from photo sleeve: "Howard Hughes sits in the cockpit of the XF-11, a reconnaissance plane that Hughes built and designed in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers. Hughes is preparing for his first test flight in Culver City, California July 7, 1947.

Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Crowd Greets Hughes On Arrival In Capital, Washington D.C. -- Howard Hughes and his companions came to Washington July 21, to personally thank Secretary of State Cordell Hull for the State Department's co-operation on their record world flight, and incidentally to be feted at a luncheon of the Press Club. The photo shows Hughes, in park suit and black hat, as he was led through a huge crowd on his arrival at the Washington Airport. Credit Line (ACME) 7/21/38 (NY FOR)."

A view of Howard Hughes inside and at the controls of the Spruce Goose in Long Beach, California.

Howard Hughes stands on a ladder underneath the body of XF-11 plane.

Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Hughes guest at National Press Club. Washington, D. C. -- After personally thanking Secretary of State Cordell Hull for his assistance in clearing the way for their round-the-world flight, Howard Hugehs and his four daring companions were guests at a luncheon of the National Press Club here, July 21st. Here Hughes is shown as he was congratulated at the club by Major General Oscar Westover, Chief of the Army Air Corps. Left to right: Howard Hughes, Constantine A. Dumansky, Counselor of the Soviet Embassy: General Westover, Jesse Jones, Chairman of the R. F. C. and Count De Saint-Quentin, the French Embassador."