Aerial view of Hughes HK-1, Flying Boat. The plane was designed and built by Howard Hughes; it it shown near completion at its graving dock at Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor. Transcribed from note on back of photo: "World's largest airplane--After Ground tests here the plane will undergo extensive water-taxi tests."

Howard Hughes descending a stairway from Constellation 069, at the Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. in 1944.

The black and white view of an unidentified aircraft that is possibly being hoisted above or lowered to the ground.

The black and white view of an unidentified aircraft that is possibly being hoisted above or lowered to the ground.

Transcribed press release from back of photograph: "Howard Hughes' flying boat, world's largest plane, rides free off Terminal Island in Los Angeles Harbor immediately after its launching yesterday. The plane's vertical stabilizer tip rides about 80 feet above the water as the air giant floats for the first time. With Hughes at the controls, the colossal craft will get first water taxi tests today."

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.