The black and white view of people surrounding the Lockheed 14 aircraft in France. Text printed on photograph's accompanying strip of paper: "Part of the crowd that greeted Howard Hughes and his globe girdlers as they landed in Paris on the first lef of a round-the-world flight."
Materials contain photographs of the HK-1 Hercules, otherwise known as the "Spruce Goose" or the "Flying Boat," from 1942 to 1947. The photographs primarily depict the construction, transportation, and storage of the plane, but also include photographs of the first and only test flight of the HK-1 above Los Angeles Harbor in 1947. Howard Hughes designed the HK-1 as the world's largest plane, capable of transporting large quantities of U.S. military hardware and personnel. In 1947, under the program's new designation H-4 Hercules, Hughes had the plane transported from his factory in Culver City, California to Los Angeles Harbor. On November 2, he piloted the plane during its only test flight. The U.S. Air Force abandoned the controversial project, and Hughes was called to testify before the Truman Committee of the U.S. Senate to justify the use of government funds on a program that never succeeded.
Archival Collection
Howard Hughes Professional and Aeronautical Photographs
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Collection Number: PH-00321 Collection Name: Howard Hughes Professional and Aeronautical Photographs Box/Folder: N/A
The black and white view of Howard Hughes (left) and Albert Lodwick (right). Text printed on an accompanying strip of paper: "After Hughes' record breaking flight. Howard Hughes, sportsman pilot who flew from Los Angeles to Newark Airport, New Jersey, January 19, in 7 hours, 28 minutes, 27 seconds, knocking over 2 hours from his previous record, is shown at left as he discussed the flight with A. L. Lodwick at the latter's home in New York, January 19th. Credit Line (ACME) 1/19/37 NY LA."
The black and white view of the Lockheed 14 aircraft in a hangar in New York, New York. Typed on a piece of paper attached to the image: "Readying Hughes' plane for Paris flight-- Mechanics hastened to put Howard Hughes's Lockheed 14 monoplane in shape for a flight from Floyd Bennett Airport herem to Paris. Motor trouble forced postponement and helpers were working under injunction to have the ship ready for a takeoff, July 9, "at the earliest possible moment." Photo shows: Mechanics working on the plane inside the hangar at Floyd Bennett Field. Credit Line (ACME) 7/9/1938."