From the Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection (PH-00221) -- Series IV. Pahrump, Nevada -- Subseries IV.A. Hughes Family. Kenneth Hughes wearing a new hat and vest purchased by his father. Model-T Ford in background belonged to a man named Red Hennis, who worked on the ranch.
Description given with photo: "Hughes And Dietrich Check Statements, Washington: Howard Hughes (seated) and Noah Dietrich, vice president of the Hughes Tool Co., look over their files and statements as the Senate War Investigating Subcommittee's hearing got under way, Aug. 8. Dietrich testified that a former chief of the Army Air Forces Procurement Offices said he would never buy an airplane from Hughes because he didn't like him. Credit (ACME) 8/8/47."
Materials contain photographs of the HK-1 Hercules, otherwise known as the "Spruce Goose" or the "Flying Boat," from 1945 to 1947. The photographs primarily depict the construction, transportation, and storage of the plane, but also include the first and only test flight of the HK-1 above Los Angeles Harbor in 1947. Howard Hughes designed the HK-1 as the world's largest plane, capable of transporting large quantities of U.S. military hardware and personnel. In 1947, under the program's new designation H-4 Hercules, Hughes had the plane transported from his factory in Culver City, California to Los Angeles Harbor. On November 2, he piloted the plane during its only test flight. The U.S. Air Force abandoned the controversial project, and Hughes was called to testify before the Truman Committee of the U.S. Senate to justify the use of government funds on a program that never succeeded.
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: "Hughes Alone As Probers Recess Till Fall, Washington, D.C. - Plane builder Howard Hughes, above, sat alone in the normally jam-packed senate caucus room today after war investigating sub-committee chairman Homer Ferguson, (R) of Mich., announced that because of the disappearance of press agent John W. Meyer, the Hughes war contract investigation has been recessed until November 17, 1947. Hughes, shown checking his private papers, wrathfully termed the postponement action by the sub-committee chairman as "ridiculous." -INP Photo by A.E. Scott- 8/11/47."
Howard Hughes (left, in dark coat) noted designer, builder, and industrialist entering the hull of the Hughes Flying Boat, the largest airplane in the world, as it was nearing completion on Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor. With him is Joe Petralli, assistant director of service and flight.