The black and white view of Hiram "Tommy" Thurlow and the Lockheed 14 aircraft in New York, New York. Typed on a piece of paper attached to the image: "Readying Hughes' plane for Paris flight. New York City-- Mechanics hastened to put Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 monoplane in shape for a flight from Floyd Bennett Airport here, to Paris. Motor trouble forced postponement and helpers were working under injunction to have the ship ready for a takeoff "at the earliest possible moment," July 9. Photo shows: Lieut, Thomas A. Thurlow, navigator, calibrating compass on plane. Credit Line (ACME) 7/9/1938."
Transcribed from press release attached to back of photo: "NEW PHOTO PLANE TEST-FLOWN CULVER CITY, California, July 7 -- Howard Hughes, who designed and built the new FX-11 reconnaissance plane in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers, sits in the pilot's bubble-glass canopy preparing for the first test flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photo planes, the XF-11 can attain a speed of more than 400 miles per hour, Army officials said. It is powered by two 3000-horsepower radial engines with eight-bladed contra-rotating propellers. Outstanding features include a full-span flap, unique eight-camera layout, and exceptionally fast take-off." Transcribed from photo sleeve: "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.
Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Chicago Cheers Hughes and Companions, Chicago -- Howard Hughes, leader of the quintet that flew Around the World in 3 days, 19 hours, and Mayor Edward J. Kelly, of Chicago, riding at the head of the parade that the city staged in honor of Hughes and his four companions. Credit Lines (ACME) 7/30/38. (NY)."