L-R: Rea Hopper, Director of the Aeronautical Division, Hughes Aircraft Company; Howard Hughes; Clyde Jones, Director of Engineering, Hughes Tool Company Aeronautical Division; Warren Reed, Assistant; Col. Carl E. Jackson, Air Research and Development Headquarters, Baltimore; Gale J. Moore, pilot; and unidentified pilot in front of the experimental helicopter XH-17 Flying Crane on October 23, 1952. This was one of Hughes' last public appearances.
Description given with photo: "Hercules Rolls Across Pontoon Bridge, Long Beach, Calif. -- The 220-foot, 60-ton fuselage-full, last section of Howard Hughes' $20,000,000 Flying Boat rolls across tricky pontoon bridge in Long Beach to complete a 28-mile trip to assembly dock at Terminal Island, Calif. The air giant is expected to try its wings early next year. Credit Line (ACME) NY."