The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft after performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Description printed on back of photograph: "Howard Hughes leaving his plane after flight around the world in three days, 19 hours and 17 minutes 7/14/38"
Transcribed from stamp on back of photo: "June 16, 1946; Hughes Aircraft Photo." Crowds and policeman watching as a section of Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" or "Flying Boat" was being moved (with a police escort) from the Hughes Aircraft plant in Culver City, California to Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor where the plane was assembled June 1946. Notice workers raising the power lines so the fuselage could pass underneath.
Press release attached to back of photo: "A roughneck fits a new Hughes Jet bit into the drill collar preparatory to running the drill stem into the hold. In 1953 more than 500,000 rock bits produced by the Hughes Tool Company of Houston, Texas, were used in the United States alone. The invention of the rock bit by Howard R. Hughes, Sr., made it possible to drill far deeper into the earth beyond the shallow oil deposits which are now practically exhausted. Without rotary drilling equipment of this kind the world might revert to a horse and buggy economy."
Transcribed from photo sleeve: Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" or "Flying Boat" being assembled at Long Beach Harbor. Stamped on back of photo: "Hughes Aircraft Photo" and the date "Jan 8 1947." Los Angeles Harbor, Terminal Island are now known and Long Beach.
Press Release attached to photo: "HUGHES HERCULES READY FOR TESTS. LONG BEACH, CAL. An aerial view shows Howard Hughes' giant plywood seaplane Hercules ready for taxi tests at Long Beach. The initial flight of the plane, which cost $20,000,000 and will seat 700 persons, will not be attempted until early in 1947. ACME 10/13/46." Los Angeles Harbor, Terminal Island are now known as Long Beach.