Description printed on photograph's accompanying strip of paper: "Howard Hughes landing at Fairbanks 8:18 p.m. after flight from Moscow in 12 hrs., 17 mins. - distance 2457 mi. Distance flown from New York: 11, 188 mi. Elapsed time from New York, 72 hrs., 58 min. Flight time, 54 hrs., 39 min."
Transcribed from attached press release: "DRILLING LABORATORY The fundamental purpose of all Hughes rock bit research is to improve bit performance. In attaining this improvement it is necessary to balance design with the application of correct metallurgical materials and manufacturing methods. The preliminary proving ground is the Drilling laboratory housed in the main Laboratory building. Its field-size drilling rig, with 118 ft. derrick, was especially designed to test rock bits in a manner simulating oilfield drilling conditions."