Transcribed from press release attached to back of photo: "PENETRATES EARTH 16,000 FEET A surface approaching the hardness of the diamond is applied by a new atomic-hydrogen welding process to the teeth of a rock bit drill at the Hughes Tool Company plant in Houston, Texas, owned by Howard Hughes, noted aircraft designer-flyer. The first Hughes rock bit revolutionized oil drilling practices in this nation several decades ago, making possible recovery of oil beneath hard rock formations at great depths. Most recent models have penetrated the earth below 16,000 feet. Hughes drills are used in 50 foreign countries. NOTE: The atomic-hydrogen process differs from other arc-welding processes in that the arc is formed between two electrodes, rather than one electrode and the work." The patent on the atomic-hydrogen process was awarded October 29, 1929.

Howard Hughes inside of the DC-3. Stamped on back of photo: "Hughes Aircraft Photo."

Howard Hughes at a press conference, standing in front of what is assumed to be a DC-3.

Howard Hughes exiting an airplane in New York, flanked by two unidentified men.

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.

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 Los Angeles Harbor where the plane was assembled June 1946.

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 Los Angeles Harbor where the plane was assembled June 1946.