Howard Hughes, man of a thousand mysteries…
Why am I fascinated with Howard Hughes? I worked at two aerospace manufacturing and testing facilities that were founded by Howard. Everywhere you turned within the facilities signs of Howard’s genius and determination were present—and tales of Howard’s spirit roaming about.
Born in Texas in the early 1900’s, Howard’s father held several oil drilling patents and founded the famed Hughes Tool Company. By age 14 Howard had built radios, motorized bicycle, steam engines, and took his first flying lessons—and eventually put our first satellites into space.
I became so intrigued by my sightings of ‘the lingering presence of Howard Hughes’, that one of my future memoirs is devoted to the unusual events that happened to me while working in the former Hughes facilities.
Howard’s ideas were often bigger than reality…
Howard lived in a dream world bigger than life. Starlets threw themselves at the millionaire. Scientists and engineers stood in awe of his presence. If the walls could only speak, they would tell tales of Howard’s obsessive-compulsive disorder and eccentric mannerisms. Having sworn to secrecy, my former boss was reluctant to comment. All he said was, “Howard is everywhere—as though his spirit is watching our every move.”
The above photo of the Spruce Goose… a huge Hughes transport plane constructed nearing the end of World War II, it was so big that it needed a water runway. A daredevil at heart, and not wishing anyone to suffer from his folly, Howard took the Goose up for its maiden flight. Impractical, the plane never went into production.
People rumor that his ghost walks the halls…
For three decades I worked for an engineering company that installed computerized control systems that serviced aerospace facilities throughout Southern California. SKG (Spielberg’s movie company) bought Hughes abandoned helicopter plant in Playa Del Rey California. The plant built helicopter’s during World War II.
I was sent to the plant to salvage our old automated equipment. Pitch dark during the day, the plant had no electricity. For the next few weeks I felt a presence walking the darkened hallways, until one day I went against my better judgement, and followed my instincts to a stairwell that led down to a room that had been hidden from sight—a room built like a safe. Not like any safe I had ever seen before, this was as big as a two-bedroom apartment, with 2 cylinder locked vault entrances, three-foot thick steel all around—resembling a functioning apartment, art deco style. This was one of Howard’s reclusive haunts.
I had experienced strange and often frightening events while working in this, and in other Hughes’ facilities. Odd, unexplainable events that tested my sanity over the next three decades. Intrigued, I never stopped looking for credible explanations.
Space became Howard’s final frontier…
Aside from the helicopter plant, I worked primarily for Hughes Aircraft, which occupied the old Nash car plant in El Segundo California. They built satellites. Since my company installed and monitored many automated systems that controlled the facility, I had the run of the place and could go anywhere at any time—with top security clearance.
Once again, on long nights, into the wee hours of the morning, if you listen with keen ears, you can hear the walls whispering, echoing tales from times past when Howard’s genius filled the atmosphere with never seen before ingenuity, determination and flawless perfection in craft. We have benefited from his ingenuity, in the technology we now find commonplace, because Hughes and his teams of scientists, engineers and manufacturing saw opportunities that have changed the way we look at the world.
Will the real Howard please stand up…
How many actors does it take to get it right? Above are three famous actors who played the role of Howard Hughes—all excellent performances. Jason Robards portrayal of a genius gone insane leads the pack. Howard isn’t a frog, and no matter how Hollywood wishes to dissect him, they have only touched the surface of Howard’s many unsolved mysteries…
In an upcoming memoir, I will take you on the adventure of a lifetime, as we walk the halls and listen to faint echoes… and visit with an anomaly, real or imaginary, of Howard’s spirit. What remains of a genius like Howard Hughes long after he has passed away—is the measure of his greatness.
Photos: Painting: Frederic Lewis, Spruce Goose: Del Harlen, Helicopter :T. Monif, Satellites: Hughes Aircraft, Robards : L. Mermick, Beatty : Ciero de Feo, D. Dicaprio : Barlett
Find The Uris Trinity at Amazon.com
Read Michael’s blog/journal at” www.michaelcadyuris.com
Follow Michael on Facebook: fb.me/TheUrisTrinity