Top view of the Hughes H-1 Racer with an X painted over its R registration number on its starboard wing. The registration number NX 258Y is seen on the rudder.
Date stamped on back of photo: April 3, 1947. Transcribed from attached press release: "HUGHES FLIES DUPLICATE OF CRASH PLANE CULVER CITY, Calif., April 5 -- Howard Hughes, famed flier-industrialist, today test-piloted the plane pictured here, a duplicate of the XF-11 photo-reconnaissance ship which he nearly lost his life in an accident last July 7. He designed and built the plane for the Army Air forces in conjunction with the Air Materiel Command engineers. He has recovered from the injuries sustained last year when the freak propeller trouble dashed the original XF-11 to earth. As usual, he today took personal responsibility for the first test flight of the new plane." The actual flying date is April 4, 1947.
The black and white view of Howard Hughes in a suit. Text printed on an accompanying strip of paper: "After Hughes' record breaking flight. Howard Hughes, sportsman pilot, is shown, left as he discussed his record breaking flight from Los Angeles, California, to Newark, New Jersey, in 7 hours, 28 minutes, 27 seconds, with reporters, at the home of one of his friends in New York, January 19. Credit Line (ACME) 1/19/37 NY 13."
Transcribed from attached press release: "HUGHES READY FOR TAKE-OFF IN SECOND XF-11 FLIGHT. CULVER CITY, Calif., April 5. Howard Hughes, famed flier-industrialist, recovered from injuries following crash last July 7, is shown here just before he test-piloted today a duplicate of the plane in which he nearly lost his life. He designed and built the plane, designated XF-11, and one of the world's fastest photo-reconnaissance ships, for the Army Air Forces in conjunction with the Air Materiel Command engineers."
Description given with photo: "Wing of World's Largest Plane Moved, Culver city, Calif. - One of the two 34-ton wing sections of Howard Hughes' Hercules inches toward Los Angeles harbor from Culver City, Calif., on house-moving dollies. Moving along at two miles an hour to Terminal Island for assembly, the wings will be followed in the 28-mile journey in a few days by the fuselage. Second wing section can be seen in rear. Credit Line (ACME) 6/13/46."