@A-Dubya said:

Howard Hughes was just okay with his model being destroyed like that? I don't buy him just ignoring that. If not for Cliff stealing the device to begin with, there would have been less trouble.

Cliff originally didn't steal the device it was left to him when the Gangsters tried to steal it (for the Nazis). I think he was just happy the Nazis didn't get their hands on it. As much trouble Howard Hughes had because of it, friends of Cliffs died and he lost his livelihood because of it. Howard probably felt he owed Cliff a little for putting this on his doorstep, hence why he gave him a plane at the end.

True he didn't steal it technically, but upon knowing it was stolen property, he did not return it to the owner. I suppose I could see Hughes having sympathy for Cliff's misfortunes, even though all of his work and effort in creating the machine was for nothing.

@A-Dubya said:

True he didn't steal it technically, but upon knowing it was stolen property, he did not return it to the owner. I suppose I could see Hughes having sympathy for Cliff's misfortunes, even though all of his work and effort in creating the machine was for nothing.

I think the ones truly to blame were the G-men working for Hughes. If they weren't such dicks about the situation (the loss of his plane), Cliff might have been more willing to help them out.