Transcribed from back of photo: "Howard Hughes (in cockpit) warms up the XF-11 for its initial test flight. It is one of the world's fastest long-range photographic planes, July 7, 1946."
Howard R. Hughes, Sr., standing outdoors by a trench mining drill, which is underneath a tent-like canopy. Part of the Sharps-Hughes Tool Company's Second and Girard Streets plant is seen in the background.
Description given with photo: "Flying Boat Takes Off - Pedro, Calif. : With all eight motors roaring, Howard Hughes' giant plywood flying boat skims across the surface of Los Angeles harbor at 95 miles per hour on November 2nd. Shortly afterward, Hughes lifted the plane into the air for an unscheduled half-mile flight. Credit Line (ACME) 11/04/47."
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.