Description given with photo: "Surprise To Everyone - San Pedro, Calif. : Millionaire planemaker Howard Hughes is surrounded by members of the press after successfully taking his 200-ton flying boat into the air in a surprise flight during initial taxi tests in Los Angeles harbor. Credit (ACME) 11/5/47."
Standing from left to right are John D. Home (Department of Communications of the American Legion), Howard Hughes (Managing Director of Production of RKO), and Edward Underwood (Department of Communications of Hollywood American Legion Motion Picture Post #43), in the late 1950s.
The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft after performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Description printed on back of photograph: "Howard Hughes leaving his plane after flight around the world in three days, 19 hours and 17 minutes 7/14/38"