Transcribed from back of photo: "Howard Hughes in the cockpit of the new XF-11 reconnaissance plane which he designed and built in conjuntion with Air Material Command engineers. He is preparing for its first flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photo planes, it can attain a speed of over 400 miles per hour."
Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Chicago Cheers Hughes and Companions, Chicago -- Howard Hughes, leader of the quintet that flew Around the World in 3 days, 19 hours, and Mayor Edward J. Kelly, of Chicago, riding at the head of the parade that the city staged in honor of Hughes and his four companions. Credit Lines (ACME) 7/30/38. (NY)."
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."
Materials depict the celebrations of Howard Hughes's circumnavigation flight in 1938. Along with a crew consisting of Harry Connor, Tom Thurlow, Richard Stoddart, and Ed Lund, Hughes flew the Super Electra on a global circumnavigation flight. On July 10, 1938, Hughes and the crew departed Floyd Bennett Field in New York and flew to Paris, France, Moscow, Russia, Omsk, Russia, Yakutsk, Russia, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Minneapolis, Minnesota before landing back in New York on July 14. The photographs primarily depict the parades thrown for Hughes after completion of the flight. The photographs also depict Hughes and his crew meeting with New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at New York City Hall, the National Press Association, and crowds of onlookers who attended the plane's landings in various cities.
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
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.