A view of Howard Hughes (wearing headphones, left) inside and at the controls of the Spruce Goose in San Pedro, California.

A view of Howard Hughes (wearing headphones, left) inside and at the controls of the Spruce Goose in San Pedro, California.

The up close view of Howard Hughes being escorted through a crowd of people at Floyd Bennett Airfield in New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes at Floyd Bennett Airport after his round the world flight 7-14-38. (Press Association)"

A view of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat going on an unscheduled test run in San Pedro, California.

Aerial view of the Hughes Aircraft Culver City plant, 1960's.

Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "New York hails heroes of World Flight, New York City --- In the greatest reception since Lindbergh's, Howard Hughes and his gallant companions paraded up Broadway today, almost smothered beneath New York's ticker-tape accolade recognizing their record-smashing world dash. Here's Hughes, (center back, seat), gazing up the tons of torn paper fluttering down on him and his comrades, following in the car behind. Beside Hughes on the left is Grover Whalen, head of the New York World's Fair, 1939. Credit Line (ACME) 7/15/38."

A view of Howard Hughes (center) with California Governor Frank Merriam (left) and Los Angeles Mayor Frank L. Shaw in Los Angeles, California.