From the Howard Cannon Photograph Collection (PH-00192)

Howard Hughes sits in the cockpit of the XF-11, a reconnaissance plane that Hughes built and designed in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers. Hughes is preparing for his first test flight in Culver City, California July 7, 1947.

A close up portrait of Howard Hughes, possibly in an airplane hangar in New York.

From the Howard Cannon Photograph Collection (PH-00192). Stamped on verso: "Official United States Air Force Photograph - Anderson AFB Washington 25, D.C."

Description given with photo: "Before Hughes Took Off For New York, Los Angeles, Calif. - Multi-millionaire movie producer and aviator Howard Hughes is shown in front of this B-23 converted bomber before taking off for New York Sept. 10th. Hughes, piloting the plane, landed at Kansas City to rest before continuing with the flight. He is the seal of approval on a film he made. Creditline (ACME) 9/11/46."

The black and white view of police men awaiting the arrival of the Lockheed 14 aircraft at Floyd Bennett Airport in New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached onto the image: "Police in readiness for arrival of Hughes' plane, Floyd Bennett Airport, N.Y. -- Police lined up in front of a plane at Floyd Bennett Airport, as last-minute preparations were made for the arrival of Howard Hughes and his companions, who were winging over North Central America on the last leg of their epochal Round-The-World flight. By noon a crowd of 6,000 persons had assembled and countless others choked all roads leading to the field as the fliers drew nearer to their goal. Credit Line (ACME) 7/14/38."