Howard Hughes in the cockpit of his Douglas DC-3 aircraft. The photo was taken right before or after his first flight since the nearly fatal XF-11 crash in 1946.
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.
L-R: John D. Home, Department Commander of the American Legion; Howard Hughes, Managing Director of production for RKO Pictures; Edward Underwood, Commander of the Hollywood American Legion Motion Picture Post #43.
L-R: Edward Underwood, Commander of the Hollywood American Legion Motion Picture Post #43; Howard Hughes, Managing Director of production for RKO Pictures; John D. Home, Department Commander of the American Legion.
Description printed on photograph's accompanying strip of paper: "Howard Hughes in the cockpit of his plane. A few minutes before leaving Paris for Moscow on the second leg of his flight around the world. 7-12-38"
Crowd of people watching Howard Hughes arrive at the Washington Airport in Washington D.C. to thank Cordell Hull for the State Department's co-operation of Hughes' Round the World flight.