Evidence
4 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-4).
-
[1]DANFS-derived narrative (article incorporates public-domain DANFS text); official DANFS site returning HTTP 500 [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- USS Audrain (APA-59), Gilliam-class attack transport, named for Audrain County, Missouri. Laid down 1 December 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1852) at Wilmington, California, by the Consolidated Steel Corp.; launched 21 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Arthur G. Rydstrom; acquired by the Navy 1 September 1944; placed in commission at San Pedro, California, 2 September 1944. Propulsion: Westinghouse turboelectric drive, 2 boilers, 2 propellers, 6,000 shp; 16.9 knots. Service: shakedown training off the southern California coast; in late October sailed to San Francisco and took on passengers and cargo; on 21 October got underway for Manus, Admiralty Islands (developed leaks in the tubes of one boiler en route; made repairs upon arrival at Manus 9 November); proceeded to Noumea, New Caledonia, to embark Army troops for training exercises in preparation for landings on Luzon; during December held exercises off Noumea as well as at Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Participated in the landings at Lingayen Gulf (9 January 1945) and the invasion of Okinawa (1-9 April 1945). Got underway 2 January 1945 with Task Group 77.9 with troops embarked for the assault on Luzon; anchored in the transport area in Lingayen Gulf on the morning of 9 January and landed her troops without opposition; unloading completed by the evening of 12 January; retired with her task unit to Leyte. On 18 January set course for Biak, Schouten Islands; took on troops and equipment for transportation to Mindoro; discharged passengers and gear on secured beaches in the San Jose area of Mindoro 9 February; retired to Leyte Gulf. During the next several weeks involved in training exercises in Philippine waters. On 27 March got underway with TG 55.1 for the invasion of Okinawa; arrived off the island on D-Day 1 April, began lowering her boats and sent them to other transports to assist in landing their assault troops; on the morning of 3 April began landing troops and cargo in the Hagushi area. Experienced several air attacks: on 6 April opened fire on a lone Japanese Aichi D3A 'Val' bomber but scored no hits; two 40-millimeter projectiles fired by neighboring vessels hit her on the forward bulkhead of the navigation bridge, slightly wounding three members of her crew. The landings were completed 9 April, and the vessel left the Okinawa area bound for Hawaii; paused at Guam 14 April to transfer casualties from Okinawa to hospitals ashore; continued to Pearl Harbor. Arrived 1 May and underwent a 10-day period of repairs; sailed to San Francisco, arriving 18 May; entered the yards of Hurley Marine Works, Oakland, California, for repairs and alterations; after leaving the yard took on passengers and cargo; got underway for Pearl Harbor 31 May; following a brief layover set sail for Leyte, stopping en route at Eniwetok and Ulithi before arriving 30 June. Discharged cargo and embarked Navy passengers bound for the United States; returned to the West Coast via Pearl Harbor and reached San Francisco 29 July; returned to Hurley Marine Works for repairs and alterations; while in the yard the Japanese capitulated 15 August; returned to duty 18 August and got underway for Guam; paused en route at Eniwetok before arriving Guam 2 September. Proceeded to Saipan and dropped anchor 10 September; loaded cargo and troops of the 2nd Marine Division earmarked for occupation duty in Japan. Sailed for Japan 18 September; arrived at Nagasaki five days later and landed her forces without incident; on 26 September left Japan via Manila and sailed to Subic Bay, Philippines; embarked more troops there and returned to Japan; put passengers ashore for the occupation of Wakayama; on 1 November arrived back at Manila; took on military passengers for return to the United States; arrived Portland, Oregon, 27 November; entered a shipyard there for repairs. Commenced another voyage to Japan 26 December; arrived Yokohama 14 January 1946 and debarked troops and supplies; left Japanese waters 27 January and set course for San Pedro via Pearl Harbor; left California, sailed back to Hawaii in early April, and remained in port at Pearl Harbor for the duration of her naval career. Decommissioned at Pearl Harbor 15 May 1946; transferred to the Maritime Commission 25 July 1947 for laying up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California; name struck from the Navy list 1 August 1947; sold for scrap 11 July 1972 to the National Metal & Steel Corporation of Terminal Island, California. Audrain earned one battle star for World War II service.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Limitations
- Official DANFS returning HTTP 500; identity and service history from the DANFS-derived narrative. The narrative text dates the anti-aircraft engagement '6 June' but she completed unloading at Okinawa and left 9 April; '6 April' is the coherent reading and is used here. The narrative's summary line dates Lingayen Gulf '9 January 1944'; the detailed narrative establishes 1945, which is used. Disposition dates: secondary Gilliam-class table reports transfer to buyer 27 November 1972 rather than the 11 July 1972 sale date; both are recorded as a discrepancy.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-audrain-apa59-01
-
[2]Negative search result across authoritative repositories (2026-09-25) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No ship-specific asbestos documentation located for USS Audrain (APA-59) in any authoritative source searched (Navy, NARA, HAER, museum records). This is a negative finding, not an absence of exposure.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Limitations
- Negative finding reflects search coverage, not proof of absence. No hull-specific asbestos survey located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-audrain-apa59-02
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[3]CourtListener authenticated search (combined ship name + hull number) not completed - helper pipe broke after authenticated request on two attempts (2026-09-25) [court_record]
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener authenticated search for the combined ship name and hull number ("USS Audrain" APA-59) could not be completed during the writing session. Two SSH attempts against the Mac Studio authenticated helper broke the pipe after the authenticated request and before any results returned; no further attempts were made to avoid tripping fleet-wide pacing limits. The search gap is logged; no litigation conclusion can be drawn and the search must be retried before any litigation finding can be claimed.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Limitations
- Search not run; no litigation finding can be claimed. Retry required for complete coverage.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-audrain-apa59-03
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[4]U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, asbestos exposure guidance for Navy veterans [other_primary]
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Era context: the Department of Veterans Affairs states that many WWII-era Navy ships contained asbestos products, with boiler and engine rooms of particular concern because asbestos was widely used as insulation during this period.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Limitations
- Era context only - does not establish asbestos presence aboard this specific hull. Not a finding about this ship.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-audrain-apa59-04