Howard Hughes in the cockpit of his Douglas DC-3 aircraft. The photo was taken right before or after his first flight since the nearly fatal XF-11 crash in 1946.
Description given with photo: "Mr. Hughes Exits Smiling, Washington, D.C. - A different Howard Hughes from the harried, sometimes angry, man who faced the Senate War Investigating Committee last week, the millionaire plane-builder is shown waving a cheerful farewell to Washington and his admirers as he boarded his converted bomber at National Airport today for his return to California. Before taking off Hughes said he has no idea of the where-abouts of his elusive public relations man, John W. Meyer. Asked if he would be back in Washington when the committee reconvenes in November, he said: "Certainly." Photograph by N.K. Benson. 8/13/47."
L-R: John D. Home, Department Commander of the American Legion; Howard Hughes, Managing Director of production for RKO Pictures; Edward Underwood, Commander of the Hollywood American Legion Motion Picture Post #43.