Howard Hughes inspecting the equipment on the flight deck inside of the HK-1, Hughes Flying Boat, which he designed and built. The man pictured behind Hughes is possibly Earl Martyn, Hughes' flight engineer. The Flying Boat was near completion and was located on Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor.
Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes Guest at National Press Club. Washington, D. C. -- Howard Hughes, multi-millionaire round-the-world flyer is pictured as he spoke at the National Press Club here, July 21st, where he and his four companions were guests at a luncheon of the club. Hughes and the members of his crew on the flight visited Washington to personally thank Secretary of State Cordell Hull for his assistance in the clearing of their plane. Credit Line (ACME) 7/21/38."