Howard Hughes (standing) on the set of the motion picture, "The Outlaw." The movie set resembles the interior of a stable. Three unidentified crew members work on the set.

The hull of the $20,000,000 airplane, also known as the Flying Boat or Spruce Goose, being transferred from Culver City to Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor. The Flying Boat was moved to Terminal Island's graving dock where construction was completed in June of 1947.

A view of Howard Hughes' Hercules preparing for taxi tests in Long Beach, California.

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."

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.