A view of the near-fatal crash of Howard Hughes' XF-11 in Culver City, California.

A view of the near-fatal crash of Howard Hughes' XF-11 in Culver City, California.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes (far right) and three unidentified men standing in front of the Lockheed 14 aircraft after landing.

Transcribed from attached press release: "Howard Hughes, right, noted aircraft designer and industrialist is shown for the first time on the flight deck of the famed Hughes flying boat, which he designed and built. It is the largest airplane in the world. The plane is now nearing completion on Terminal Island, in Los Angeles-Long Bay Harbor, May 12, 1947." Los Angeles Harbor is now known as Long Beach Harbor, California.

An overhead view of the near-fatal crash of Howard Hughes' XF-11 in Culver City, California.

Description printed on photograph's accompanying strip of paper: "Checking damages of plane on arrival at Le Bourget. Le Bourget-- The thoroughness with which he planned the flight and carried it through was still with Howard Hughes when the millionaire flyer and his four companions arrived at Le Bourget, after a record smashing flight across the Atlantic. Hughes is shown here, examining the tail of his plane, just after landing, The tail was damaged slightly. After repairs were made, the fliers took off for Moscow."