A front view of HK-1, Hughes Flying Boat, the world's largest plane, which successfully completed its first flight, shown in the photo. The eight 3,000 horsepower engine lifted the craft from the waters of Los Angeles Harbor with Hughes at the controls. The huge wings, with a span of 320 feet carried the aircraft for one mile at a 100-mile per hour speed before Hughes put it back on the water.

The up close view of Howard Hughes and his crew of five posing on the steps of City Hall for photographs in New York City, New York. Crowds who gathered to celebrate Hughes' completion of his Round the World flight can be seen in the background.

A side view of the HK-1, Hughes Flying Boat, the world's largest plane, which successfully completed its first flight. The eight 3,000 horsepower engine lifted the craft from the waters of Los Angeles Harbor with Hughes at the controls.

Transcribed from attached press release: "DRILLING LABORATORY The fundamental purpose of all Hughes rock bit research is to improve bit performance. In attaining this improvement it is necessary to balance design with the application of correct metallurgical materials and manufacturing methods. The preliminary proving ground is the Drilling laboratory housed in the main Laboratory building. Its field-size drilling rig, with 118 ft. derrick, was especially designed to test rock bits in a manner simulating oilfield drilling conditions."