Exceptional pairing of items flown on Howard Hughes's triumphant 1938 around-the-world flight: a superb large 12 x 8 silk American flag carried on the historic flight; and a scarce flown commemorative airmail postal cover, 9.5 x 4, issued in conjunction with the 1939 New York World’s Fair, bearing several postage stamps, postmarks, and rubber stamps indicating the primary stops on the record-setting journey: Paris, Moscow, Omsk, Yakutsk, Fairbanks, Minneapolis, and the final destination, New York City. The cover has been signed in fountain pen by Hughes, "Howard Hughes," and by his co-pilot, "Harry Connor." The flag and cover are handsomely mounted, matted, and framed with a plaque to an overall size of 19 x 24. In overall fine condition. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from University Archives, stating that these originate from the collection of Al Lodwick, Hughes's flight operations manager. Lodwick was responsible for mapping the route, making contact with officials to ensure that Hughes could land safely, and arranging for refueling and repairs as necessary.
In 1938, Hughes set a new around-the-world record of 3 days, 19 hours, and 8 minutes. With co-pilot Harry Connor, radio operator Dick Stoddart, flight engineer Edward Lund, and navigator Tommy Thurlow, Hughes took off on July 10th from an airfield on Long Island, New York, in a specially designed Lockheed 14N ‘Super Electra’ aircraft with a range of nearly 5,000 miles. Hughes wanted the flight to be a triumph of American aviation technology, illustrating that safe, long-distance air travel was possible. The flight was sponsored by the upcoming New York World's Fair, for which Hughes served as an aeronautical advisor, and the aircraft itself was named 'New York World's Fair 1939.' The covers and flags were the only non-essential items carried on the flight, and are seldom offered together. A remarkable display of material carried on Hughes's important flight.
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