Description given with photo: "Float Hughes Flying Boat, San Pedro, Calif.: Water pours into Howard Hughes' mammoth drydock as the millionaire plane builder prepares to float his giant plywood flying boat on November 1st. The nose of the 200-ton craft can be seen at right. In upper right are three of the four right wind engines. Credit Line (ACME) 11/04/47."

A view of Howard Hughes and Florida's Senator Claude D. Pepper inspecting the construction of the Spruce Goose in San Pedro, California.

A view of Howard Hughes and Florida's Senator Claude D. Pepper inspecting the construction of the Spruce Goose in San Pedro, California.

A view of Howard Hughes and Florida's Senator Claude D. Pepper inspecting the construction of the Spruce Goose in San Pedro, California.

Howard Hughes in the cockpit of the XF-11. Trucks and emergency vehicles are seen nearby.

Lily Pons (left), Howard Hughes (center), and an unidentified man (right) at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Text printed on an attached strip of paper: "Noted flier and his hostess at cocktail party Los Angeles, Cal. -- Howard Hughes, noted flier, with Lily Pons, singing star, as he attended the cocktail party given by Miss Pons at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Credit Line (ACME) 11/8/38 NY LOND PAR."

Description given with photo: "Flying Boat Takes Off - Pedro, Calif. : With all eight motors roaring, Howard Hughes' giant plywood flying boat skims across the surface of Los Angeles harbor at 95 miles per hour on November 2nd. Shortly afterward, Hughes lifted the plane into the air for an unscheduled half-mile flight. Credit Line (ACME) 11/04/47."