The Hughes flying boat was launched for the first time, (Nov 1, 1947) after the three concrete docks, one containing the hull and two the wing pontoons, were pumped with sea water to the outside level, gates were lowered and the plane was towed forward by tractors and then by boats as the tail cleared the dock. Los Angeles Harbor is currenly known as Long Beach Harbor, California.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes exiting his Lockheed 14 aircraft after performing the final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Telling the world about the record-smashing flight. New York City--Under the giant wing of the huge Lockheed plane, radio men set up their microphones so that Howard Hughes and his gallant crew of four can send a few words of greeting to the world over the air waves after landing at Floyd Bennett Field on their record-smashing flight around the world. Credit Line (ACME) 7/14/38"