Description given with photo: "Hughes Testifies, Washington: A candid view of plane manufacturer Howard Hughes (above) testifying before the Senate War Investigating Subcommittee today, August 6. hughes opened his testimony with a charge that Senator Owen Brewster (R. ME.), a committee member, offered to call off the senate investigation of his (Hughes) war plane contracts, if Hughes agreed to an air line merger. Credit (ACME) 8/7/47."
Description given with photo: "Howard Hughes In Washington, Washington: In good humor and wearing his battered "good luck" felt hat that he wore in his recent plane crash, plane manufacturer, Howard Hughes leaves national airport following his overnight flight from the west coast to appear before the Senate War Investigating Sub-committee today (Aug. 6). Credit (ACME)."
Materials contain photographs of the HK-1 Hercules, otherwise known as the "Spruce Goose" or the "Flying Boat," from 1945 to 1947. The photographs primarily depict the construction, transportation, and storage of the plane, but also include the first and only test flight of the HK-1 above Los Angeles Harbor in 1947. Howard Hughes designed the HK-1 as the world's largest plane, capable of transporting large quantities of U.S. military hardware and personnel. In 1947, under the program's new designation H-4 Hercules, Hughes had the plane transported from his factory in Culver City, California to Los Angeles Harbor. On November 2, he piloted the plane during its only test flight. The U.S. Air Force abandoned the controversial project, and Hughes was called to testify before the Truman Committee of the U.S. Senate to justify the use of government funds on a program that never succeeded.
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
Description given with photo: "Hughes and Slack Huddle, Washington, D.C.: Howard Hughes (right) and his attorney, T.A. Slack (left) of the Hughes Tool Co., huddle over questions Hughes and prepared to ask Sen. Owen Brewster (R. ME.) at today's hearing before the Senate War Investigating Subcommittee. Creditline (ACME) 8/7/47."