The Latrobe Gate, the Navy Yard's ceremonial entrance, was the first structure constructed at the site (it was completed in 1804). The following year he was appointed a chief engineer in the United States Navy. Latrobe was appointed Surveyor of the Public Buildings of the United States and superintendent of construction of the United States Capitol in 1803. Jefferson commissioned Latrobe to design these facilities, but his plans were rejected by Congress as being too grandiose. Benjamin Henry Latrobe, a Philadelphia-based architect, was a close friend of President Thomas Jefferson's. The Navy Yard was established the same year as the city, but it wasn't until 1802 that any facilities were built. At the time, the Potomac River was a very important waterway - not only for trade, but because its mouth was at the mouth of the all-important Chesapeake Bay through which any invader would have to move. As the seat of the federal government, Congress felt it important to have the Army and Navy establish headquarters in the city to encourage it to grow. The District of Columbia was established in 1799. The Washington Navy Yard is to the right. In the distance is Nationals Park, the home stadium of the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team. The destroyer museum ship USS Barry is to the right, docked at the Washington Navy Yard. Looking west from the 11th Street Bridges at the Anacostia Waterfront in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Use of this photograph in ANY form is NOT permitted without permission from the author. This uniform can be seen in "the Atlantic Theater" section of the In Harm's Way, the Navy in World War II exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Navy at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. The Polaroid, variable density, gunner's goggles can be adjusted by the knob on front. 50 caliber Browning machine gun features an aircraft type grip next to it stands a 250-round ammunition box. The heavy shearling-lined boots with rubber soles feature two zippers, one for normal use and one with a leather, pull tab for use in an emergency.
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Gunners had special mittens with trigger fingers. While in the aircraft, crews wore a parachute harness on top of the other equipment. A Mark 1 life jacket or Mae West is worn over the jacket. The leather NAF-1092 flight helmet is fitted with A-N 6530 goggles. Both the M-445A heavy winter jacket and the matching M-446A trousers were lined with shearling, sheepskin tanned with the wool left on. Because of extreme cold at upper altitude, aircrews wore warm, durable clothing.