Howard Hughes (wearing hat) receives congratulations from Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at Floyd Bennett Airport in Brooklyn. The gentleman wearing a polka dot bow tie, standing behind the mayor is Grover Whalen. Mr. Whalen was president of the 1939 New York World's Fair.

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.

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

A view of Howard Hughes and Grover Whalen at Floyd Bennett Airfield in New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes leaving Floyd Bennett Airport after completing a round the world flight with four companions. He is leaving with Grover Whalen (Left in picture) 7-14-38. (Press Association)."

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

The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: ""The End of Hughes' Record-Smashing World Flight, New York City: Howard hughes' giant Lockheed taxiing down the runway at Floyd Bennett Field, July 14, at the end of the record-smashing flight around the world. The plane came to a rest at the field with Hughes and his picked crew of four just 3 days, 19 hours, and 14 minutes after it had taken off from the field on its flight around the world. Credit line (ACME). 7/14/38. IA For.""