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.
Press Release attached to photo: "HUGHES HERCULES READY FOR TESTS. LONG BEACH, CAL. An aerial view shows Howard Hughes' giant plywood seaplane Hercules ready for taxi tests at Long Beach. The initial flight of the plane, which cost $20,000,000 and will seat 700 persons, will not be attempted until early in 1947. ACME 10/13/46." Los Angeles Harbor, Terminal Island are now known as Long Beach.
Text typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Howard Hughes strutting across a New York hotel lobby after completing a Round The World flight. 7-15-38. (Press Association)."
A section of Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" or "Flying Boat" being moved (with a police escort) from the Hughes Aircraft plant in Culver City, California to Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor where the plane was assembled in June of 1946.
The black and white view of motorcycle police awaiting the arrival of Howard Hughes at Floyd Bennett Field in New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Motorcycle police on hand for Hughes' landing, New York city -- Motorcycle policemen lined up on Floyd Bennett Field, July 14th, to help keep in check the crowd of 30,000 persons that gathered to greet Howard Hughes and his heroic crew as they landed their giant Lockheed plain after their record-smashing flight around the world. Credit Line (ACME). 7/14/38."