The view of a crowd consisting of thousands of people who attended a parade that celebrated Howard Hughes completion of his flight Around the World in New York City.

The view of a crowd consisting of thousands of people who attended a parade that celebrated Howard Hughes completion of his flight Around the World in New York City.

Howard Hughes in the cockpit of his XF-11 airplane before his first test flight.

Description given with photo: "Hughes Pilots Radar-Equipped Plane Culver City, Calif. -- First passenger plane equipped with radar is flown in demonstration May 1st by Howard Hughes (left) and co-pilot R.C. Loomis over Culver City. Pilots using this equipment will be warned of approaching obstacles by lights flashing on radar panel. Two lights (lefts) with 2,000-foot range, are used to guarantee clearance over mountains; two lights (right) with 500-foot range, are a safety device for approaches and landings. Either set of lights warns against approaching aircraft. Trans-World Airline plans to install radar on its passenger planes. Credit (ACME) 5-3-47."

Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Contemplative smile. Here, Howard Hughes seems in rapt thought during one of the numerous speeches extolling his feat. Probably thinking of the "men who designed and perfected to its present remarkable state of efficiency, the modern American flying machine and equipment." (The quote is from his own official statement to the press.) Credit Lines (ACME) 7/15/38."

Description given with photo: "Senator Visits Hughes, Culver City, Calif.; Senator Harry P. Cain (R. Wash.) (left), member of a Senate Subcommittee investigating Howard Hughes' war contracts, chats with Hughes (right) beside his controversial XF-11 photo-reconnaissance plane just before the millionaire plane maker took off for a test flight from his private Culver City Airport today (8/16). Credit (ACME) 8/16/47."

Howard Hughes in the cockpit of his XF-11 before its first test flight.