The black and white view of Howard Hughes and his crew before leaving for Paris.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes and his crew before leaving for Paris.

From the Howard Cannon Photograph Collection (PH-00192). Stamped on verso: "Las Vegas News Bureau - Las Vegas, Nevada Convention Center - Photographers Don English, Joe Buck, Jerry Abbott, Milt Palmer"

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."

Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Crowd Greets Hughes On Arrival In Capital, Washington D.C. -- Howard Hughes and his companions came to Washington July 21, to personally thank Secretary of State Cordell Hull for the State Department's co-operation on their record world flight, and incidentally to be feted at a luncheon of the Press Club. The photo shows Hughes, in park suit and black hat, as he was led through a huge crowd on his arrival at the Washington Airport. Credit Line (ACME) 7/21/38 (NY FOR)."