Description printed on photograph's accompanying strip of paper: "Hughes' Lockheed plane surrounded by police as it is taken out of the hangar at Le Bourget Field, Paris, for the flight to Moscow. July 1938"
The Hughes Tool Company's hard formation rock bit type R-1 was the engineering marvel on which the Hughes fortune was founded. The bit was invented by Howard Hughes' father.
Transcribed from press release attached to back of photo: "NEW-DESIGN PHOTO PLANE COMPLETED CULVER CITY, Calif., July 7 -- test-flown today for the first time, the new XF-11 was revealed as one of the world's fastest long-range photographic planes. It was designed and built by Howard Hughes in conjunction with the Air Materiel command engineers. Army officials said that it can attain a speed of more than 400 miles per hour and a ceiling of more than 40,000 feet. The plane has a pressurized cabin making it unnecessary for the crew to use oxygen masks. 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."
A view of Los Angeles Mayor Frank L. Shaw, Howard Hughes, and California Governor Frank Merriam (left to right) dining together at a banquet for Howard Hughes in Los Angeles, California.
The black and white view of Howard Hughes and his crew after completing the Around the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "A scene at Floyd Bennett Field as Howard Hughes and his crew landed after completing a round the world flight. 7-14-38 (Press Association)"
Howard Hughes giving a news Conference beside his airplane after landing in New York. This was his first flight after the nearly fatal XF-11 prototype crash in 1946.