The black and white view of motorcycle police awaiting the arrival of Howard Hughes at Floyd Bennett Field in New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Motorcycle police on hand for Hughes' landing, New York city -- Motorcycle policemen lined up on Floyd Bennett Field, July 14th, to help keep in check the crowd of 30,000 persons that gathered to greet Howard Hughes and his heroic crew as they landed their giant Lockheed plain after their record-smashing flight around the world. Credit Line (ACME). 7/14/38."
Materials depict the celebrations of Howard Hughes's circumnavigation flight in 1938. Along with a crew consisting of Harry Connor, Tom Thurlow, Richard Stoddart, and Ed Lund, Hughes flew the Super Electra on a global circumnavigation flight. On July 10, 1938, Hughes and the crew departed Floyd Bennett Field in New York and flew to Paris, France, Moscow, Russia, Omsk, Russia, Yakutsk, Russia, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Minneapolis, Minnesota before landing back in New York on July 14. The photographs primarily depict the parades thrown for Hughes after completion of the flight. The photographs also depict Hughes and his crew meeting with New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at New York City Hall, the National Press Association, and crowds of onlookers who attended the plane's landings in various cities.
Archival Collection
Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection
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Collection Number: PH-00373 Collection Name: Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection Box/Folder: N/A
The Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection depicts the activities of businessman Howard Hughes from 1930 to 1950. The photographs primarily depict aircraft flown by Hughes or designed by the Hughes Aircraft Company, including the XF-11 reconnaissance plane, the HK-1 Hercules (or "Spruce Goose"), and the Hughes H-1 Racer. The photographs also depict celebrations following Hughes's circumnavigation flight in New York City, New York and Chicago, Illinois in 1938. Lastly, the photographs include Hughes testifying in front of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program in 1947.
A view of Howard Hughes and Grover Whalen at Floyd Bennett Airfield in New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Grover Whalen greets Hughes. New York City-- His face covered by stubble and still wearing his battered hat, Howard Hughes is taken in tow by Grover Whalen, World's Fair head, shortly after Hughes and his companions set their plane down at Floyd Bennett Airport here, completing their dramatic dash around the world. Credit Line (ACME) 7/14/38"