Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Faved Flyer Visits Washington - Wash, D.C. - Photo shows the crowd pressing forward for a glimpse of Howard Hughes, well known sportsman flyer, as he arrived at Washington Airport in an American Airliner. Photo Credit ACME. 7-21-38. New York Bureau."
The hull of the $20,000,000 airplane, also known as the Flying Boat or Spruce Goose, being transferred from Culver City to Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor. The Flying Boat was moved to Terminal Island's graving dock where construction was completed in June of 1947.
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.