Howard Hughes (wearing hat) receives congratulations from Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at Floyd Bennett Airport in Brooklyn. The gentleman wearing a polka dot bow tie, standing behind the mayor is Grover Whalen. Mr. Whalen was president of the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Text typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Howard Hughes strutting across a New York hotel lobby after completing a Round The World flight. 7-15-38. (Press Association)."
Description given with photograph: "Hughes sets new transcontinental transport mark. Floyd Bennet Field, NY--- Howard Hughes, millionaire flier, setting his famous round-the-world transport plane down here, early August 20th, after a record-smashing flight from Los Angeles. Hughes and three companions completed the trip in 10 hours 32 minutes and 20 seconds, shattering the record of 11 hours and five minutes set four years ago by Tommy Tomlinson. The flight was made most of the way in the substratosphere at an average altitude of 17, 000 feet. Credit Line ACME."
The black and white view of Howard Hughes, Mayor La Guerdia, and Grover Whalen leaving City Hall through a parade dedicated to the completion of Hughes' Round the World flight in New York City, New York.