Description given with photo: "Hughes Submits Written Question, Washington: Howard Hughes tosses a written question to Sen. Homer Ferguson, chairman of the Senate War Investigation sub-committee, Nov. 8. Hughes was refused permission to take the stand and charged Ferguson was "throwing every obstacle" in the way of presenting testimony favorable to Hughes himself. On Ferguson's right is Sen. Carl Hatch, while the committee's chief counsel, William P. Rigers, faces the camera in the background. Credit (ACME) 11/9/47."
Materials contain photographs of the HK-1 Hercules, otherwise known as the "Spruce Goose" or the "Flying Boat," from 1945 to 1947. The photographs primarily depict the construction, transportation, and storage of the plane, but also include 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 Public Relations Photograph Collection
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Collection Number: PH-00373 Collection Name: Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection 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."
Photograph of Howard Hughes standing next to a table with an unidentified man. The two are looking over a sheet of paper Hughes is holding. They are possibly on a film set.
The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft after performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes reception at Floyd Bennett Field 7/14/38."
Oral history interview with Hugh Key conducted by Bob Bush on February 21, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Key discusses spending over thirty years in Las Vegas, Nevada. His wife, Mrs. Key, is also present during the interview and offers a few remarks.