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Photographer: Mike Wintermantel
Taken: May 14, 2014
Caption: An Arsenal of Democracy
Additional Description: In recognition of its history, Pittsburgh was immediately assigned a crucial role in meeting the materiel demands of global war. Federal investments targeted both the expansion of the city's industrial base and the training of the unprecedented number of skilled workers required to staff it. The necessary changed occurred rapidly, and the region was again ready to serve.

In West Homestead, portions of Mesta Machine Corporation were quadrupled in size to produce barrels for naval guns at a wartime pace. The Homestead Works of United States Steel tripled its forged armor production after undergoing the largest expansion of any comparable facility in the nation. Overall, the region supplied 95 million tons of steel to Allied forces, leading a Navy official to praise the performance as "victory through steel power."

Dravo Corporation's Neville Island shipyard was converted to build LSTs - for Landing Ship Tank - the largest combat vessels ever launched from inland locations. They were built at a rate of two per week to carry both men and equipment, and they supported the invasion of Africa, Europe and every Pacific island objective. At Iwo Jima, the captain of Dravo-built LST 779 volunteered his "Sunday Flag" to be flown atop Mt. Suribachi when the banner raised there was judged too small to be seen by arriving ships. The replacement flag flew throughout the battle.
Submitted: May 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Database Locator Identification Number: p273334
File Size: 1.865 Megabytes

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