Materials contain photographs of the Hughes XF-11 prototype military reconnaissance aircraft from 1946 to 1947. The photographs depict Howard Hughes piloting the two XF-11 prototypes that were built: during the test flight in July 1946, Hughes crashed the first XF-11 in Beverly Hills, California; in April 1947, Hughes successfully flew the second prototype at high speeds and at high altitudes. However, the United States Air Force abandoned the controversial project, and in August of 1947, Hughes was called to testify before the Truman Committee in the U.S. Senate about the failures of the program.
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
Description given with photo: "Mexican President Greets Visitors, Mexico City, Mex. -- Howard Hughes (left), millionaire aircraft manufacturer and movie producer, and Cary Grant (right), Hollywood screen star, who made a plane trip together to Mexico City, are pictured with A.C. Blumenthal (gesturing), famous hotelman and President Miguel Aleman at the National Palace. Credit Line (ACME). 2/18/47."
Howard Hughes standing in the doorway of his plane and shaking the hand of an unidentified individual amongst a crowd of men at the Grand Central Air Terminal in Los Angeles.