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 printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Hughes guest at National Press Club. Washington, D. C. -- After personally thanking Secretary of State Cordell Hull for his assistance in clearing the way for their round-the-world flight, Howard Hugehs and his four daring companions were guests at a luncheon of the National Press Club here, July 21st. Here Hughes is shown as he was congratulated at the club by Major General Oscar Westover, Chief of the Army Air Corps. Left to right: Howard Hughes, Constantine A. Dumansky, Counselor of the Soviet Embassy: General Westover, Jesse Jones, Chairman of the R. F. C. and Count De Saint-Quentin, the French Embassador."
Description given with photo: "Poised For Trial Run, San Pedro, Calif.: Two engineers are dwarfed by the four right wing engines of Howard Hughes' mammoth plywood flying boat as the 200-tom craft is readied for taxi tests in Los Angeles harbor on November 1st. While completing taxi runs on the following day, Hughes casually lifted the big plane into the air for an unscheduled half-mile flight. Credit Line (ACME) 11/04/47."