USS Bland (APA-134)

Evidence

12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).

1. [1]research packet j-packet.md (2 sources cited) [other_primary]

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Evidence ID

   uss-bland-apa134-pkt-j-packet-md

2. [2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 3 (NAVSHIPS 250-012, 1945), auxiliaries - transports, attack (APA) section, APA-134 row (shipscribe.com scan of the official BuShips publication) [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 PDF pp. 247-252 (book pp. 228-233), APA tables row 26: dimensions, personnel, machinery, armament/cargo, construction; index pp. 662 and 731 (M.C.V. Hull 50)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Official BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. 3 carries a per-hull row for BLAND APA-134 (APA table row 26, index entry 'Bland (ex-M.C.V. Hull 50)'): 455'0" overall / 436'6" waterline; beam 62'0"; 17.7 knots trial speed; 14,837 tons trial displacement; machinery 1 Joshua-Hendy turbine, 8,500 shp, 1 propeller, with 2 Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers at 465 psi / 750F; accommodations 56 officers + 480 enlisted, troop capacity 86 officers + 1,475 enlisted; armament 1 x 5"/38 cal (D.P.) + 4 twin and 1 quad 40mm; cargo 150,000 cu ft non-refrigerated, 2,900 DWT cargo / 5,800 DWT total; builder California S.B. Corp., Wilmington, Calif.; year built 1944; acquired 14 Dec 44; first commissioned 15 Dec 44.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1945

   Limitations

   Authoritative wartime BuShips publication naming this hull - confirms identity, machinery plant, manning, builder, and key dates. Notably lists a Joshua-Hendy turbine for this hull (not the Westinghouse unit carried in the class profile from the lead ship's row). Contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-01

3. [3]DANFS, 'Bland (APA-134)' entry, Naval History and Heritage Command (expanded modern entry; live NHHC URL returns 404 - verbatim text retrieved via Internet Archive Wayback capture 20250202194020) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry body text + spec block (capture 20250202194020); short print-derived text corroborated at hazegray mirror losthistory.net/hazegray/danfs/amphib/apa134.htm

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NHHC DANFS expanded entry (Robert J. Cressman, 12 Jan 2006): named for Bland County, VA; laid down 2 Aug 1944 under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 50) at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif.; launched 26 Oct 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Lawrence A. Collins; acquired on loan charter 14 Dec 1944; commissioned San Pedro 15 Dec 1944, Cmdr. Laurence E. Eastman USNR. Service: shakedown off Los Angeles and Coronado Strand; Seattle 9 Feb 1945; embarked 85 Army officers + 1,219 enlisted + 42 sailors; convoy PD-312T via Eniwetok to Apra Harbor, Guam (13 Mar; embarked Iwo Jima casualties); Pearl Harbor 31 Mar; San Diego; Hawaii 17-24 Apr with 1,550 passengers; amphibious exercises Maui/Oahu; San Francisco 4 Jun, Seattle 8 Jun; departed Seattle 26 Jun with 1,512 soldiers; Eniwetok 8 Jul, Ulithi 18 Jul; Naha, Okinawa 5 Aug (convoy WOK-42, Hagushi Beach unloading by own boats); Saipan 14 Aug. Occupation: Leyte 20 Aug; Cebu embarkation of 78 officers + 1,240 men, Americal Division; Yokohama 9-10 Sep; TG 33.3 with Formosa POW-evacuation diversion; Cebu 19 Sep; TG 34.8 with 77th Division elements, Otaru, Hokkaido 5 Oct (part of 10,000-man Hokkaido occupation lift); 1st Marine Division men/cargo embarked Naga Wan, Okinawa 16-21 Oct; Taku Bar/Tientsin 25 Oct-1 Nov; Magic Carpet runs Jinsen 6 Nov, Sasebo 9 Nov, Buckner Bay 11 Nov, San Francisco 3 Dec; two further Magic Carpet runs; departed San Francisco 7 Feb 1946 via Panama; Norfolk 7 Mar; decommissioned 27 Apr 1946; turned over to the War Shipping Administration 28 Apr; stricken 8 May 1946; James River reserve; sold to Consolidated Steel Corp., Brownsville, Tex., 23 Jan 1974 with sisterships Bandera, Buckingham, Drew, and Eastland for scrap.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1974

   Limitations

   Primary Navy historical entry - authoritative for service history, custody chain, and disposal. Spec block carries 's. 19 k.' vs BuShips 17.7 kt trial figure and older print DANFS 17.5 kt (see gaps). Sister-ship sale line prints 'Bandera (AP-131)' - an NHHC typo for APA-131. Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim. Live NHHC page 404s (standing link rot, cf. BATCH-01); the Wayback capture is the verbatim NHHC text.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-02

4. [4]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Bland (APA-134), file 10/03/03134 [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource 03134.htm - specifications block, awards, commanding-officer table, disposal entries

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource timeline corroborates DANFS and adds detail: call sign NDOE; TransRon Twenty-One (COMO J.R. Palmer) / TransDiv Sixty-Three (CAPT F.M. O'Leary) assignments; awards - American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia clasp), occupation service window 7-14 Sep 1945; commanding officers CDR Laurence E. Eastman USNR (15 Dec 1944 - 9 Dec 1945) and CAPT James Oliver Banks Jr. USN (9 Dec 1945 - 27 Apr 1946); decommissioned 27 Apr 1946 at Norfolk, VA; returned to Maritime Administration 28 Apr 1946, NDRF James River Group, Lee Hall, VA; struck from Naval Register 8 May 1946; withdrawn 18 May - 21 Jul 1955 to Shepard Steamship Co. (Repair Program) under General Agency Agreement; sold for scrapping 23 Jan 1974 in a five-ship deal to Consolidated Steel Corp., Brownsville, TX (PD-X-970 dated 14 Dec 1973) for $958,999.00; withdrawn from James River Reserve Fleet 1 Mar 1974. Spec block: 6,873 t light / 14,837 t full; 455' x 62' x 24'; 17.7 kt; complement 56 officers + 480 enlisted; troop accommodations 86 officers + 1,475 enlisted; 1 Joshua-Hendy geared turbine, 2 B&W header-type boilers (465 psi, 750F), double Joshua-Hendy main reduction gears, three 300kW DC generators, 8,500 shp, one propeller; armament 1 x 5"/38 DP, 4 twin + 1 quad 40mm, 10 x 20mm; boats 2 LCM + 1 open LCPL + 1 covered LCPL (captain's gig) + 2 LCPR + 18 LCVP.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1974

   Limitations

   Specialist secondary compilation - detailed but non-official; consistent with NHHC and with the MARAD status card on custody dates. Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-03

5. [5]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - BLAND (APA-134), Ship History Detail 549, incl. digitized vessel status cards (549_1012AF/AB, 549_AF/BF, card PNG) and BLAND.pdf [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail 549 registry block, milestone table, documents tab (BLAND.pdf) and status-card scans (card images read directly)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory registry record for this hull plus five digitized status-card scans: Year Built 1944; Shipyard 'California Shipbuilding Corporation'; MARAD Type VC2-S-AP5; 455.00 ft x 62.00 ft; displacement 14,837 t summer / 6,873 t light; Hull No. MCV-50; completed 12-14-44. Status-card custody chain (verified from card images): delivered by builders to USMC 12-14-44 10:30 AM PWT at Wilmington, Calif.; to Navy Dept. (loan charter) same date; to Reserve Fleet at Lee Hall, Va., 4-28-46 12:20 PM EST from Navy Dept. as 'Surplus'; withdrawn to Shepard Steamship Co. (Repair Program) under GAA 5-18-55 11:00 AM EST, returned to Reserve Fleet James River 7-21-55 9:00 AM; sold to Consolidated Steel Corporation (scrap) 1-23-74; physically delivered 3-1-74 3:15 PM EDT. Sale card: contract MA-7241; advertised under PD-X-970 dated 12-14-73, bids opened 1-16-74, two conditions (NTU / SCRAP HULL-US), awarded under condition (2) SCRAP HULL-US; lump sum for 5 ships $958,999.00 (vessel card records Bland's allocated share $191,799.80); light-ship weight 5,800. Card back: 'Reserve Fleet memo of 7-23-70 strikes this ship off the scrap list as of July 1, 1970, and returns it to retention status.' Fleet-entry fuel aboard: 1,478 bbls Bunker C + 132 diesel. Permanent-ballast report of 11-23-49: poured cement and cement blocks in holds 2 and 4. The sale card's name field bears a struck-through '(T-LPA-134)' annotation of unknown meaning - the hull was never re-designated (stricken 1946, before the 1969 LPA program).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1974

   Limitations

   Authoritative MARAD registry and custody documents. Status-card handwriting OCR-degraded in places; values read from card images with OCR aid. Establishes the hull was in James River NDRF custody at Lee Hall, VA continuously from 28 Apr 1946 to sale Jan 1974 except the 18 May - 21 Jul 1955 Shepard GAA repair-program withdrawal - the fact that discredits the two complaint-vessel-list allegations (ev-05, ev-06). Contains no asbestos or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-04

6. [6]Farris v. Warren Pumps, LLC, No. 3:08-cv-00231-EDL (N.D. Cal. filed Jan 14, 2008), Complaint Exhibit A, p. 1 (RECAP gov.uscourts.cand.199386.1.0) [court_record]

   Locator

   Complaint, Document 1, Exhibit 'A' page 1 (scan p. 13): employer/exposure table and vessel roster, 'BLAND (APA-134)' entry

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   Docketed asbestos personal-injury complaint names this hull: Farris v. Warren Pumps, LLC, N.D. Cal. No. 3:08-cv-00231 (filed 14 Jan 2008, terminated 22 Sep 2014; Brayton Purcell LLP for plaintiff James Farris; co-defendant Huntington Ingalls Inc.). Complaint Exhibit A (Doc. 1, p. 13 of the scan) alleges plaintiff's exposure as a marine machinist for Guy F. Atkinson Co. at Willamette Shipyard, Richmond, CA, exposure dates 1974 - 6/1976, aboard 'various ships including the following' - an alphabetical vessel roster that includes 'BLAND (APA-134)'. Plaintiff's stated injury: asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease, diagnosed on or about July 2000.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   complaint filed 2008; alleged exposure 1974-1976

   Population

   Shipyard marine machinist (alleged, 1974-1976); asbestosis/pleural disease

   Limitations

   Pleading-stage allegation only - a complaint's vessel roster is an allegation, not a finding, and no merits disposition of the Bland allegation is located (case terminated 22 Sep 2014; only the complaint is in RECAP). The allegation is internally inconsistent with the documented custody record: the hull was sold for scrap 23 Jan 1974 and physically delivered to the Brownsville, TX breakers 1 Mar 1974, and is documented in James River NDRF custody (Virginia) throughout the 1946-1974 window - never at Willamette Shipyard, Richmond, CA. The roster is boilerplate (same exhibit lists SCHUYLER OTIS BLAND (AK-277), a different ship, and dozens of unrelated vessels). Establishes only that the hull was named, not that any individual was exposed aboard her.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-05

7. [7]Utterback v. Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., No. 3:08-cv-00983-JCS (N.D. Cal. filed Feb 15, 2008), Complaint Exhibit A (RECAP gov.uscourts.cand.200540.1.0) [court_record]

   Locator

   Complaint Document 1-2, pp. 22-23 of 106: Western Asbestos employer block and vessel roster, 'BLAND (APA-134)' entry

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   Second docketed asbestos complaint names this hull: Utterback v. Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., N.D. Cal. No. 3:08-cv-00983 (filed 15 Feb 2008, terminated 20 May 2008; Brayton Purcell LLP; plaintiff Betty Utterback, para-occupational/take-home exposure via husband Russell Utterback, insulator; plaintiff's injury lung cancer diagnosed on or about March 2004). Complaint Exhibit A (Doc. 1-2, p. 23 of 106) attaches a vessel roster including 'BLAND (APA-134)' to the husband's Western Asbestos Co. insulation work (7/1961-10/1961; 7/1962-5/1965) at Bay Area sites listed as Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (San Francisco), Triple A Machine Shop (Pier 64), Willamette Shipyard (Richmond), Pacific Ship Repair (Pier 36), Todd Shipyard (Oakland), Matson Navigation (Pier 30), and Naval Air Station Alameda.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   complaint filed 2008; alleged exposure 1961-1965 window

   Population

   Insulator's spouse (para-occupational allegation); lung cancer

   Limitations

   Pleading-stage allegation only - a complaint's vessel roster is an allegation, not a finding; case terminated 20 May 2008, ~3 months after filing, with no merits disposition located. The allegation is location-inconsistent with the documented custody record: during the alleged 1961-1965 window the hull is documented in James River NDRF custody at Lee Hall, VA (MARAD status card), never at the California yards listed. Boilerplate roster (includes SCHUYLER OTIS BLAND (AK-277), a different ship, and dozens of unrelated vessels). Establishes only that the hull was named, not that any individual was exposed aboard her.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-06

8. [8]Consolidated era/design inference - BuShips SDB 1945 v3 machinery row for this hull + VC2-S-AP5 type data [other_primary]

   Locator

   SDB1945v3 machinery table, APA-134 row (PDF p. 249)

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Era/design inference: this hull carried a single-screw geared-steam plant (one Joshua-Hendy turbine per her BuShips SDB row, two Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers at 465 psi / 750F superheat) built at the peak of WWII asbestos usage - the machinery configuration for which boiler and fireroom insulation, main and auxiliary steam-line lagging, turbine lagging, valve and flange gaskets, machinery packing, and accommodation joiner insulation of the period were commonly asbestos-containing. Troop-space outfitting (capacity 1,561) added interior insulation scope. Post-Navy custody (NDRF lay-up 1946-1974, incl. the 1955 Shepard Steamship Repair Program withdrawal) and the 1974 breaking at Brownsville, TX are the disturbance-phase pathways for this hull.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1974

   Population

   Construction trades at California SB, Wilmington (1944); wartime crew and embarked troops; NDRF lay-up/repair workers; 1974 breaking-yard workers

   Limitations

   Inference from the documented machinery plant and construction era - NOT a hull record of asbestos. No survey, specification, or material schedule naming APA-134 was located; establishes no asbestos content, quantity, location, individual exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-07

9. [9]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 emergency construction program under which this VC2-S-AP5 attack transport was mass-produced - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization in shipbuilding.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1940s era documented; article 1987

   Population

   WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)

   Limitations

   Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel or class and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bland-apa134-08

10. [10]Fleischer, W.E., Viles, F.J. Jr., Gade, R.L., and Drinker, P., 'A health survey of pipe covering operations in constructing naval vessels,' J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28(1):9-16 (Jan 1946), PMID 21016030 [other_primary]

    Locator

    PubMed record PMID 21016030; article pp. 9-16 (pipe covering material section)

    Finding type

    gov_survey

    Finding

    The U.S. Maritime Commission-commissioned industrial-hygiene survey of WWII pipe-covering operations at two Navy yards and two Navy contract yards documented that 'an important ingredient of pipe covering material used on U.S. Navy vessels is amosite' - i.e., asbestos insulation was standard material in wartime naval-vessel construction of exactly this hull's era and type.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    survey ~1944-45; published 1946

    Population

    WWII pipe coverers and insulators at Navy and contract yards (era context)

    Limitations

    Era-level documentation of asbestos use in naval construction generally; does not name this vessel, class, or builder yard and establishes nothing about this hull's materials, condition, or any individual exposure. (The study's exculpatory 'not a dangerous occupation' conclusion has since been heavily criticized - see the 2026 critique at DOI 10.1177/10482911261446696.)

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-bland-apa134-09

11. [11]Batch-2204 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS via Wayback; hazegray DANFS mirror; NavSource 03134; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 549 + status cards; BuShips SDB 1945 v3; CourtListener authenticated API sweeps; NARA record-group guides [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-bland-apa134-01 through sl-uss-bland-apa134-11

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, court finding, or adjudicated exposure record naming USS Bland / APA-134 / M.C.V. Hull 50 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The only litigation located is two N.D. Cal. complaints naming the hull in boilerplate Exhibit-A vessel rosters (ev-05, ev-06) - pleading-stage allegations inconsistent with the hull's documented custody in Virginia/Texas.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    2026-09-25

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 geared-steam transport is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and her ~28 years in NDRF custody plus 1974 breaking are undocumented disturbance phases. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-bland-apa134-10

12. [12]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel - Navy deck logs), RG 19 (Bureau of Ships), RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission), RG 357 (Maritime Administration) [other_primary]

    Locator

    https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/024.html ; /groups/019.html ; /groups/178.html ; /groups/357.html

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (not retrieved - requires research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): Navy deck logs for USS Bland 1944-1946 (RG 24, NARA College Park); BuShips records incl. VC2-S-AP5 contract plans and Booklets of General Plans (RG 19); USMC construction-contract records for M.C.V. Hull 50 at California Shipbuilding (RG 178); MARAD/NDRF custody files covering the 1946-1974 lay-up, the 1955 Shepard Steamship Repair Program GAA file, and the PD-X-970/MA-7241 sale file (RG 357).

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    1944-1974 records

    Limitations

    Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-bland-apa134-11