Engines attached to the wing of the Flying Boat are visible in this photograph that was taken during Howard Hughes first test flight. Harbor Island is visible in the distance. Photograph likely taken from inside the plane. Los Angeles Harbor is now known as Long Beach Harbor.

The Flying Boat during Howard Hughes first test flight November 2, 1947. Los Angeles Harbor is now known as Long Beach.

The Flying Boat during Howard Hughes historic test flight. Stamped on the back of the photo "Hughes Aircraft Photo" and the date "Nov 2 1947." Los Angeles Harbor, Terminal Island are now known as Long Beach.

Aerial view of Hughes Flying boat. Press release attached to back of photo: "LAUNCHING WORLD'S LARGEST PLANE The Hughes Flying boat was launched for the first time November 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 Flying Boat was carefully towed forward by tractors, and by boats as the tail cleared the dock. During taxi tests the following day Howard Hughes made a surprise flight of a mile." Stamped on back of photo: "Hughes Aircraft Photo" and the date "Nov 1 1947." Los Angeles Harbor, Terminal Island are now known as Long Beach.

The XF-11, a reconnaissance plane that Hughes built and designed in conjunction with Air Material Command engineers, sits in a field. Automobiles with cameras on top are parked, ready to chase the plane on its test flight.

Transcribed from press release attached to photograph: "LABORATORY MACHINE SHOP SPEEDS PRODUCT RESEARCH The Hughes Laboratory machine shop is devote to the building of full-scale test models of rock bits, tool joints and other drilling tools for laboratory and field testing. In connection with the latter, the shop is equipped to manufacture these tools in sufficient quantities to make possible extensive and simultaneous field trials. The machine shop handles a large amount of work for the Research, Product and Metallurgical engineering departments. This includes building new designs, new machines and new devices for preliminary testing."

James Howard "Dutch" Kindelberger (President and General Manager of North American Aviation), Larsen Warren, and Noah Dietrich seated at a banquet table.