A view of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat being prepared for a test run in Long Beach, California.

Description given with photograph: "Howard Hughes is shown entering his Boeing Stratoliner at Glendale, Calif 8/26/39"

A view of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat being taken out for an unscheduled test run in Long Beach, California.

Howard Hughes (in white shirt) supervises construction of the Hughes D-2 at the Hughes Aircraft Company. in Culver City, California. The D-2 was the prototype of the XF-11.

Description given with photo: "Howard Hughes Is Asked About His XF-11 By Senator! Culver City, Calif. - Millionaire plane builder Howard Hughes, left, is asked about his controversial XF-11 photo reconnaissance plane, background, by Senator Harry Cain, right, Republican of Washington. Cain is member of the Senate War Investigating Committee, and inspected Hughes craft after the plane builder had test flown the ship. An earlier model of same design nearly cost Hughes his life when it crashed in Beverly Hill last winter. Note wind-blown hair on both Pilot Hughes and observer Cain. Photo by Felix Pagel. 8/16/47."

Description given with photograph: "Hughes' streamlined Stratoliner groomed for record dash. Glendale, Calif.-- With customary secrecy, Howard Hughes, millionaire oilman and speed-flier, is reported to be grooming his new $250,000, four-motored, streamlined Stratoliner(above) for another record-breaking transcontinental flight from Glendale, Calif., to New York. Hughes made the headlines some time ago when he broke the transcontinental record in a smaller ship. The new craft is pictured just before a trial flight at Glendale."