From the Howard Cannon Photograph Collection (PH-00192)

Description given with photo: "Hughes Submits Written Question, Washington: Howard Hughes tosses a written question to Sen. Homer Ferguson, chairman of the Senate War Investigation sub-committee, Nov. 8. Hughes was refused permission to take the stand and charged Ferguson was "throwing every obstacle" in the way of presenting testimony favorable to Hughes himself. On Ferguson's right is Sen. Carl Hatch, while the committee's chief counsel, William P. Rigers, faces the camera in the background. Credit (ACME) 11/9/47."

Transcribed from press release attached to photo: "HUGHES READY FOR TAKE-OFF IN SECOND XF-11 FLIGHT. CULVER CITY, Calif., April 5 -- Howard Hughes, famed flier-industrialist, recovered from injuries following crash last July 7, is shown here just before he test-piloted today a duplicate of the plane in which he nearly lost his life. He designed and built the plane, designated XF-11, and one of the world's fastest photo-reconnaissance ships, for the Army Air Forces in conjunction with the Air Materiel Command engineers.