Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]research packet cc-packet.md (4 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-banner-akl25-pkt-cc-packet-md
-
[2]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), 'Banner II (AKL-25)', Naval History and Heritage Command [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry text, 'Banner II (AKL-25)'
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Banner (AKL-25) was built for the Army in 1944 at Kewaunee, Wis., by the Kewaunee Shipbuilding & Engineering Corp. as Captain William Galt (FS-345); acquired from the Army 1 July 1950 and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service; designated light cargo ship AKL-25 before 20 August 1952; renamed Banner 5 September 1952; commissioned at Pearl Harbor 24 November 1952, Lt. Horace W. Atkisson in command. Assigned to Service Division 51, Pacific Fleet; made regular supply runs to advanced Pacific bases, then Marianas duty from Guam (Rota, Saipan, Pagan, Chi Chi Jima, Haha Jima, occasionally Japan and Hong Kong). Departed Guam 25 July 1965; converted to an environmental research ship at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; operated out of Yokosuka (home port 1 April 1966). Redesignated AGER-1 on 1 June 1967. Surveyed mid-1969 and declared unfit; decommissioned and stricken at Yokosuka 14 November 1969; sold 5 June 1970 to Mitsui & Co., Tadotsu, Japan, for scrapping. DANFS statistics: dp. 550 (light); l. 177'; b. 33'; dr. 10'; s. 12 k.; cpl. 40; cl. Camano.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1944-1970
- Population
- Ship's company, AKL complement ~40-42; AGER complement ~83
- Limitations
- Authoritative for identity and service history. Contains no asbestos, materials, or insulation-content statement; supports no asbestos claim. The 'environmental research' label is the cover designation - the signals-intelligence function is documented in the companion evidence rows.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-01
-
[3]U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office, 'World War II Coast Guard-Manned U.S. Army Freight and Supply Ship Histories' (media.defense.gov official publication), FS-345 entry [other_primary]
- Locator
- FS-345 entry within the FS-vessels compilation PDF
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Coast Guard-manned Army vessel FS-345 was commissioned at Kewaunee, WI, on 26 July 1944 with LTJG G. W. Oberst, USCGR, as commanding officer; assigned to and operated in the Southwest Pacific area and at Guam. Her first monthly diary was submitted for July and August 1945: on 1 July 1945 she was anchored in Manila Harbor, where she had proceeded two weeks previously to overhaul her main engines and generators; still anchored there 31 August 1945.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1944-1945
- Population
- Coast Guard crew of FS-345 (wartime)
- Limitations
- Official USCG historian synopsis of the Army service period only. Does not mention a 'Captain William Galt' name for FS-345, does not mention asbestos, and does not establish materials content. Does not establish individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-02
-
[4]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), 'Pueblo III (AGER-2)', Naval History and Heritage Command - AGER program narrative naming Banner [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Pueblo III (AGER-2) entry, AGER program paragraphs
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS's Pueblo entry documents the AGER program in detail: the Navy developed the small environmental research ships to collect signals intelligence (electronic and communications intelligence) plus collateral intelligence and hydrographic information, coordinated with the NSA. Three light cargo ships were initially earmarked - Banner (AKL-25), Palm Beach (AKL-45), Pueblo (AKL-44). Banner was converted first at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash. (July-September 1965), was reclassified to environmental research ship AGER-1 on 2 May 1967, and through the end of 1967 completed 16 'Clickbeetle' (intelligence gathering) patrols operating out of Yokosuka, Japan; the Soviets and Chinese harassed her at times but incidents did not escalate. Ling-Temco-Vought of Greenville, Texas, the contractor that had provided the signals intelligence collection equipment for Banner, installed similar gear aboard Pueblo.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1965-1967 (conversion and Clickbeetle patrol period)
- Population
- Banner AGER crew (~83, incl. Naval Security Group detachment); PSNS conversion trades
- Limitations
- Establishes the ship's actual intelligence-collection function and the conversion program; asbestos content of conversion or original construction is not addressed. Contains a date presentation (reclassified 2 May 1967) that reads against Banner's own DANFS entry (redesignated 1 June 1967); Shipscribe resolves this as order issued 2 May 1967, effective 1 June 1967.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-03
-
[5]National Security Agency declassified 'History Today' article, 'A Banner Cruise' (May 2018 release, formerly U//FOUO) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Declassified article text, 'A Banner Cruise', nsa.gov
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NSA's declassified article documents that Banner was the first AGER - converted in the mid-1960s for electronic intelligence collection - and that she took substantially the same route Pueblo later followed; she had been harassed by the North Koreans but not further molested. Per NSA, North Korean communications at the time of Pueblo's seizure revealed confusion when they reported AGER-2's hull number, because they expected to see AGER-1; the North Koreans, well aware of Banner and its activities, had hoped to seize it. Shortly after Pueblo's seizure, the United States sent Banner back out on an intelligence mission to cruise off the North Korean coast, this time with a heavy armed escort; Banner again escaped attack. In 1969 the Navy deemed the ship unfit for further service; it was decommissioned in Japan in November 1969 as the Navy ended the TRS/AGER initiative as too expensive.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1967-1969
- Population
- Banner AGER crew on post-Pueblo escorted patrol
- Limitations
- Declassified NSA history (official release). Establishes mission role and operating pattern only; contains no asbestos or materials information. The article's own source note includes 'USS Banner Wikipedia information,' so independently sourced facts (dates) are anchored to DANFS, not to this article.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-04
-
[6]Shipscribe (Stephen S. Roberts), 'USS Banner (AGER 1, Army Design 381) Class' - compiled from U.S. Navy Ships' Characteristics Board / BuShips records [other_primary]
- Locator
- Class data table, class notes, and ship notes (AGER-1 row)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Shipscribe's compilation from official characteristics records: Army Design 381 (176 ft, steel) coastal freighter; displacement 700 tons full; 177' oa / 172' wl x 32' x 8.5'; 1,000 hp geared diesel, 2 screws, 12 kts; accommodations 7 officers + 75 enlisted; contract 30 September 1943; completed 31 July 1944; ex-Army CAPT WILLIAM W GALT, ex-FS-345. Acquired by MSTS from the Army as AKL-25 on 1 July 1950; transferred from MSTS to USN 11 September 1952 and commissioned as USS Banner, primarily to resupply bases in the Marianas from Guam. Conversion work done at NSY Bremerton between August and October 1965; on 29 June 1965 the Navy chose Banner as the first AGER vessel. On 2 May 1967 effective 1 June 1967, AKL-25, -44, and -45 were reclassified AGER-1 through -3. Decommissioned and stricken 14 November 1969; disposal recorded 25 May 1970 (Navy sale); to Japanese scrap buyer 22 June 1970.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1943-1970
- Population
- Construction trades (Kewaunee, 1943-44); PSNS conversion trades (1965)
- Limitations
- Scholarly compilation of official BuShips/SCB records, not itself a government publication; figures are transcription-level accurate but secondary. Resolves the DANFS-internal AGER date presentation (ordered 2 May 1967, effective 1 June 1967). Contains no asbestos or insulation-content statement.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-05
-
[7]NAVSEA SEA21 (Inactive Ships Program Office), 'Ship History' inventory spreadsheet (28 June 2011) [other_primary]
- Locator
- AGER and AKL hull rows, ship_history_28june2011.pdf
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official NAVSEA inactive-ships inventory lists 'AGER 0001 | BANNER | 22-Jun-70 | MARAD scrap sale' - i.e., the Navy records Banner's removal for disposal on 22 June 1970 via a MARAD scrap sale. A second row under the AKL sequence lists 'AKL 0025 | BANNER | (blank) | UNK'.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1969-1970
- Population
- Scrapping-yard workers (Tadotsu, Japan, 1970) - era inference only
- Limitations
- Confirms official disposal pathway and date (22-Jun-70, MARAD scrap sale); differs from DANFS's 5 June 1970 sale date to Mitsui & Co. - the two dates are unreconciled in official sources (contract vs. removal/transfer date is the likely explanation, unproven). Contains no asbestos or materials information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-06
-
[8]NavSource Naval History, USS Banner (AGER-1) photo/history page (compiled service data, NHHC photo catalog numbers, USCG-manned FS-345 flag note) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Specifications block, name-lineage header, awards block, and image captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource's Banner page confirms the identity chain (USAV Capt. William M. Galt FS-345, 1944-1950; USNS T-AKL-25, 1950-1952; USS Banner AKL-25, 1952-1967; USS Banner AGER-1, 1967-1969), states the Army FS was Coast Guard-manned during WWII, gives propulsion as two 500-hp GM Cleveland Division 6-278A 6-cylinder diesel engines with twin propellers (i.e., no boilers or steam plant), complement 42 (AKL) / 83 (AGER), armament (AGER) four .50-cal machine guns and two twin 20mm mounts, and lists campaign ribbons (WWII Army period: American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, WWII Victory Medal; Navy period: National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Korea, Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal, ROK War Service Medal retroactive). Conversion at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard given as August-October 1965; LCDR Robert P. Bishop USN in command for the AGER recommissioning.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1944-1970
- Population
- Crew complement 42 (AKL) / 83 (AGER)
- Limitations
- NavSource is a privately compiled volunteer archive, not an official source; it transposes official data and documents NHHC photo numbers (NH 68709-KN et al.). Namesake shown as 'Capt. William M. Galt' - Shipscribe and the Medal of Honor record indicate 'William W. (Wylie) Galt'; the M initial appears to be a transcription error. Contains no asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-07
-
[9]Jacob v. Plastics Engineering Company (PLENCO), No. 1:19-cv-00108 (D. Guam, filed 2019-06-20, terminated 2020-02-26) - CourtListener docket 15808518 [court_record]
- Locator
- Docket search result (type=r, "USS Banner" exact phrase, bm25 score 39.6); docket header fields
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Diversity-asbestos personal-injury action (Nature of Suit 368 'P.I.: Asbestos'; Cause 28:1332 'Diversity-Asbestos Litigation') filed in the District Court of Guam against Plastics Engineering Company (PLENCO), Rockwell Automation, and others; plaintiff jury demand. The phrase 'USS Banner' occurs in the case's indexed docket text on CourtListener, surfacing the docket under an exact-phrase search for the ship name - consistent with the vessel appearing in the complaint's exposure-history allegations (plaintiffs in Guam asbestos suits commonly plead ship-by-ship exposure lists).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 2019-2020 (litigation); alleged exposure period WWII-1980s
- Population
- Plaintiffs/decedents with Guam-area service or work history (pleading context)
- Limitations
- PLEADING-STAGE ALLEGATION, never an adjudicated finding: the match locates 'USS Banner' inside the docket's indexed text (most likely the complaint or an exhibit), but the document-level context was not verified this session (CourtListener API quota discipline - search tier only). Case terminated 2020-02-26 without a merits ruling locating or quantifying exposure aboard this hull; a vessel name in a complaint is an allegation, not exposure evidence. Does not establish that any individual was exposed aboard this ship.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-08
-
[10]Corn, Jacqueline Karnell, and Jennifer Starr, 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Abstract and article, AJIM 11(3):359-373
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Peer-reviewed historical study documents that asbestos was used extensively as a fireproofing and insulating material in U.S. shipbuilding during WWII - the era and program context in which this 1944-built Army Design 381 coastal freighter was constructed at Kewaunee Shipbuilding. For a diesel-propelled freighter of this era, era-typical asbestos applications were machinery and exhaust lagging, gaskets and packing, electrical insulation, accommodation fireproofing and bulkhead linings, deck coverings, and winch/windlass brake linings - not boiler lagging, as the type had no steam plant.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context); PSNS conversion trades (1965, era inference)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel, does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. The diesel plant bounds the typical product list relative to steam vessels.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-09
-
[11]Batch-1093 search ledger (this record): DANFS/NHHC, USCG Historian's Office, Shipscribe, NavSource, NSA declassified releases, NAVSEA SEA21 inventory, Naval Vessel Register, CourtListener API v4 [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-banner-akl25-01 through sl-uss-banner-akl25-13
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or adjudicated litigation finding was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The only litigation hit is a pleading-stage allegation whose indexed complaint text names the ship (see ev-uss-banner-akl25-08) - an allegation, not a finding. The Naval Vessel Register carries no record for this hull because vessels disposed of before 1987 are outside its published coverage.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 2026-10-05
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944-built, 1965-converted hull is era-consistent with retained asbestos-containing materials, and both the original construction and the PSNS conversion are undocumented for materials content. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-10
-
[12]National Archives and Records Administration, Navy deck-log program pages (RG 24) - repository lead for Banner's commissioned-era deck logs and any surviving ship's-book/material records; NHHC photo catalog numbers on NavSource document official photographic holdings (NH 68709-KN series, 80-G-630832) [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov deck-log program page; NH numbers via navsource.net/archives/09/61/6101.htm
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Deck logs for USS Banner (AKL-25/AGER-1)'s commissioned period (1952-1969) are expected in NARA RG 24; Navy deck logs of the Vietnam era have been partially digitized under NARA's program. NHHC photographic holdings for the ship are documented (photo numbers cited on NavSource). These records are the most promising archival lead for any materials or ship's-book data on the hull, including the 1965 conversion work packages at Puget Sound.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-05
- Study period
- 1952-1969 (log coverage); research date 2026-10-05
- Limitations
- Repository-level lead only: hull-specific availability and contents were not confirmed in this pass (the NARA catalog front end did not return machine-readable results for this hull). Deck logs record operations, not materials; any asbestos content would be incidental. PSNS conversion work packages are the likeliest source of materials detail and were not located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-banner-akl25-11