USS BRADFORD (DD-545)

Evidence

11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).

1. [1]research packet crew-fh-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-bradford-dd545-pkt-crew-fh-packet-md

2. [2]DANFS, Bradford (DD-545) (specifications block, WWII service narrative, 1946 reserve decommissioning, 1950 recommissioning, Korea tours; verbatim transcription - live NHHC page serves 404) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry, specifications block + service narrative

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS record for this hull: launched 12 December 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Terminal Island, Calif., sponsored by Mrs. Sarah Bradford Rose; commissioned 12 June 1943, Comdr. R. L. Morris in command. WWII Pacific service: Baker Island (1 Sep 1943), Tarawa raid (18 Sep), Wake Island raids (5-6 Oct), Gilbert Islands occupation as TG 52.3 screen (Nov-Dec), Kavieng strikes with TG 37.2 (25 Dec 1943, 1 and 4 Jan 1944), Kwajalein/Majuro (29 Jan-8 Feb), Truk attack (17-18 Feb, hits on an enemy cruiser and destroyer), Marianas raids, New Guinea support (Apr-Jun), Saipan invasion (11-24 Jun), Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 Jun), Bonins raids, Guam assault (Jul-Aug), Palau-Yap-Ulithi raid; returned to the United States for a complete overhaul September 1944; Iwo Jima assault (19-27 Feb 1945); Okinawa operation as TG 52.1 screen and radar picket ship (24 Mar-25 Jul); 3rd Fleet operations against Japan (25 Jul-10 Aug); minesweeping support East China Sea-Ryukyus (10-25 Aug). Placed out of commission in reserve 11 July 1946 at San Diego. Recommissioned 27 October 1950; three Korean Far Eastern tours (Jan-Aug 1951, Mar-Nov 1952, May-Nov 1953) with TF 77 and TF 95. Navy Unit Commendation for Okinawa radar-picket service; 12 battle stars WWII, 6 Korean (DANFS printed count - see gaps).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1942-1962

   Population

   Bethlehem San Pedro construction trades 1942-43; wartime and postwar crew (DANFS spec complement 329)

   Limitations

   DANFS documents service history and specifications, not materials or asbestos content. Mirror transcription cited because the live NHHC page returns 404 (standing NHHC link-rot documented in BATCH-01). This short entry ends circa 1954; the post-1953 narrative is in ev-02. Battle-star count conflicts with the extended DANFS text (12 vs 11 WWII) - carried in gaps.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-01

3. [3]DANFS, Bradford (DD-545) extended/updated entry (postwar narrative through disposal; verbatim transcription hosted by the Destroyer History Foundation - live NHHC page serves 404) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/ussbradford/ - 'DANFS' tab, full entry text

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Extended DANFS record for this hull (the updated entry adds detail beyond the short entry in ev-01): laid down 28 April 1942 at San Pedro, California by the Bethlehem Steel Co.; in the Truk attack (17-18 Feb 1944) she was detached to an impromptu surface group with Iowa, New Jersey, Minneapolis, and New Orleans and assisted in sinking the light cruiser Katori and destroyer Maikaze; in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 Jun 1944) she rescued seven aviators; arrived San Diego late 1945 and placed out of commission 11 July 1946, berthed with the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet; recommissioned 27 October 1950 (Comdr. Francis D. Boyle); three Korean combat tours detailed (1951, 1952, 1953) incl. TF 77 screening, TF 95 shore bombardment, and Taiwan Strait patrol; regular overhaul at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard 6 January-8 April 1954; six peacetime Seventh Fleet deployments through final assignment ending 23 December 1960; last 13 months of commissioned service out of San Diego; departed San Diego for Bremerton 22 January 1962, arrived 26 January, decommissioned 9 February 1962; transferred to Greece on loan 27 September 1962 and commissioned in the Greek Navy as Thyella (D-28); name carried on the Navy list until struck 1 September 1975; sold to Greece April 1977; served the Greek Navy until sometime in 1981 when she was apparently scrapped; earned 11 battle stars WWII and 6 Korean.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1942-1981

   Population

   Hunters Point Naval Shipyard workers Jan-Apr 1954; Bremerton/Puget Sound yard workers Jan-Feb 1962; Greek crew 1962-1981

   Limitations

   Transcription of the official updated DANFS entry hosted by a specialist historical site (Destroyer History Foundation); the underlying text is the NHHC DANFS entry but the live NHHC URL could not be located (404) - treated as mirror transcription per BATCH-01 practice. Documents yard periods and disposition, not materials or asbestos content. Decommissioning date (9 Feb 1962) conflicts with secondary compilations reading 28 Sep 1961 - carried in gaps.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-02

4. [4]Naval Vessel Register detail page, BRADFORD (DD 545), UIC 04545 (nvr.navy.mil, captured 2001-12-24 via Internet Archive Wayback Machine) [other_primary]

   Locator

   NVR ship detail page for DD 545, status/stricken fields

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Official NVR record for this hull: class DD 448 (Fletcher hull block); status 'Disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), transferred, cash sale, ex-US fleet hull foreign military sale case number assigned'; date status changed 04/01/1977; Stricken Date 09/01/1975.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1975-1977 (disposition events)

   Limitations

   NVR records register/disposition events only - not service detail, materials, or asbestos content. Confirms the 1 Sep 1975 striking and the Apr 1977 FMS sale to Greece (consistent with extended DANFS). Detail fields (builder, dates) are blank on this register page for a pre-1987 disposal.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-03

5. [5]U.S. Navy Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo 6328-44, USS Bradford (DD-545) off Mare Island 19 October 1944 (official USN photograph; hosted via Wikimedia Commons, sourced from NavSource; companion plan-view photos dated 16 October 1944) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Wikimedia Commons file page; NavSource DD-545 photo index (captions: 'in overhaul at Mare Island from 3 Sep until 23 Oct 1944')

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Official US Navy Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo documents this hull off Mare Island on 19 October 1944, in overhaul at Mare Island from 3 September until 23 October 1944 - corroborating the DANFS statement that in September she 'returned to the United States for a complete overhaul.' Photo records Camouflage Measure 32, Design 21D configuration.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1944

   Population

   Mare Island Naval Shipyard workers, Sep-Oct 1944

   Limitations

   Photo caption documents the yard and overhaul window only - it does not state work scope, materials, or asbestos content. The date range is from the Navy photo captioning carried by the hosting archives (NavSource/Wikimedia), not from NHHC's own online catalog (unreachable).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-04

6. [6]DANFS specifications block (Fletcher class; 35.6 kt, cpl. 329) + Fletcher class design references (BuShips/navypedia-derived class profile: 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 2 GE geared steam-turbine sets, 60,000 shp); NARA RG19 'General Information Books' archival lead [other_primary]

   Locator

   DANFS spec block; Atlas Fletcher class profile (class-c worktree); shipyards.json (no San Pedro Bethlehem entry)

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Era/yard inference: a Fletcher-class destroyer built 1942-43 with a four-boiler/60,000-shp steam plant would have carried period-standard asbestos boiler and steam-line insulation, turbine lagging, gaskets, packing, fireproofing, and deck coverings; all documented yard periods (construction at Bethlehem San Pedro 1942-43, Mare Island overhaul 1944, Hunters Point overhaul 1954, Bremerton decommissioning 1962) fall inside the Navy's documented peak asbestos-use era. NARA RG19 'General Information Books' per-vessel material specifications are an archival lead for hull-level specs.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1942-1962

   Population

   Bethlehem San Pedro construction trades 1942-43; Mare Island (1944), Hunters Point (1954), and Bremerton (1962) yard workers; crew 1943-1962

   Limitations

   Class/era and builder-yard inference only - NOT a hull-specific finding; no ship-specific asbestos record exists for DD-545 in located sources. The builder yard (Bethlehem Steel, San Pedro/Terminal Island) is not present in the Atlas shipyard dataset, so no yard-level asbestos documentation row attaches to the builder; carried in gaps. NARA GIB retrieval not performed. Does not quantify material or establish any individual's exposure.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-05

7. [7]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]

   Locator

   GAO product page HRD-80-2

   Finding type

   gov_survey

   Finding

   GAO documented that the Navy used asbestos insulation extensively aboard ships and did not begin substituting alternative insulation materials until the early 1970s - placing DD-545's construction (1942-43), overhauls (1944, 1954), and entire commissioned service (1943-1962) inside the documented asbestos-use era.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   pre-1979

   Population

   Navy shipyard workers and crews program-wide

   Limitations

   Program-level documentation; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. Full report text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - content via product-page description (standing limitation documented in BATCH-01).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-06

8. [8]CourtListener API v4 sweep (authenticated, fleet-paced): opinion search "USS Bradford" = 0; opinion search "U.S.S. Bradford" = 0; RECAP/docket search "USS Bradford" = 0; opinion search "DD-545" = 1 (name collision); docket search "DD-545" = 4 (all non-vessel dockets, see below) [court_record]

   Locator

   CourtListener API v4 search type=o and type=r, 2026-09-27 (see search_ledger sl-rows)

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   CourtListener exact-name and hull-number sweep returned no qualifying asbestos (or any) litigation naming this vessel: "USS Bradford" produced zero opinion and zero docket hits; "U.S.S. Bradford" zero opinion hits; "DD-545" produced one opinion hit, Computer Products International, Inc. v. United States, 26 Cl. Ct. 518 (1992) - a Navy supply-contract dispute in which the DD-545 token is a contract/item reference, not the vessel (name collision). Unquoted "USS Bradford" opinion search (28 hits, AND-matched) was reviewed for ship references; representative asbestos hits resolve to non-vessel 'Bradford' tokens - Gordon v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., 990 F. Supp. 2d 311 (E.D.N.Y. 2014) cites Bradford v. Harding, 284 F.2d 307 (2d Cir. 1960) on removal doctrine (exposure vessels there: USS Cadmus, USS Detroit); Willis v. Buffalo Pumps Inc., 34 F. Supp. 3d 1117 (S.D. Cal. 2014) names defense counsel Bradford J. DeJardin (exposure vessels: USS O'Callahan, USS Brooke); remaining hits are surname collisions (e.g., Bradford P. Feigenbaum; attorney James A. Bradford). "DD-545" docket search produced 4 hits, all non-vessel: United States v. Blakney (D.D.C. criminal), Williams v. Big Picture Loans (E.D. Va. consumer lending), NYT v. Microsoft (S.D.N.Y. copyright), and the Madoff SIPA bankruptcy (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.) - the token appears as a document/item identifier in each. No qualifying asbestos litigation naming this vessel located.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   indexed case law through 2026-09-27

   Limitations

   CourtListener coverage is indexed opinions and RECAP dockets - unindexed state-court filings, MDL-875 pleading exhibits, and non-digitized records are not covered; absence here is absence of an indexed record, not proof none exists. One supplemental phrase variant ("aboard the Bradford") was intermittently blocked by fleet pacing at session time (search_ledger). DD-545 is a single-hull name with low alias risk; the residual collision class is the common surname Bradford.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-07

9. [9]Batch-3518 search ledger (this record): DANFS mirrors; extended DANFS transcription; NVR detail page (Wayback); official USN Mare Island photo; GAO HRD-80-2; Hellenic Navy Thyella unit index (yin.mil.gr); CourtListener sweeps; law-firm/aggregator ship pages (excluded per sourcing rules) [other_primary]

   Locator

   search_ledger rows sl-uss-bradford-dd545-01 through sl-uss-bradford-dd545-12

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   No hull-specific asbestos survey, abatement record, materials inventory, or hazmat disclosure located for DD-545 in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The ship was transferred to Greece in 1962, struck in 1975, sold in 1977, and scrapped in 1981 - before modern asbestos documentation practice - and never became a museum or reserve-fleet hold, so the disclosure channels that produced ship-specific records for preserved hulls (museum drydock reports, donation hazmat conditions) do not exist here. No qualifying litigation naming the hull was located.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-27

   Study period

   1942-1981

   Limitations

   Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - era-standard applications are documented at class/era level. The hull no longer exists, so present-day ACM status is moot; post-USN material handling under Greek custody (1962-1981) and the scrapping site/process are undocumented.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-bradford-dd545-08

10. [10]Hellenic Navy, Naval History Service unit index entry for Thyella (ex-USS Bradford DD-545), yin.mil.gr (official Hellenic Navy site) [other_primary]

    Locator

    yin.mil.gr unit index, 'Thyella (2)' entry (D-28)

    Finding type

    vessel_history

    Finding

    Official Hellenic Navy unit record for the ex-hull: 'Former USS BRADFORD DD 545' - one of two Fletcher-type destroyers granted by the USA in 1962 (with Navarinon); built 1942-43; received at Seattle, Washington on 27 September 1962 (per the unit entry, acceptance by Anticho S. Konofao PN); placed in decommission 1 January 1981. Corroborates the extended DANFS transfer date and adds the Greek decommissioning date.

    Verification

    partial

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-27

    Study period

    1962-1981

    Population

    Hellenic Navy crew 1962-1981

    Limitations

    Foreign-government official history page; the URL did not respond to direct fetch in this session - content verified via indexed search-result excerpt only, so figures carry a transcription caveat. Documents Greek-service dates, not materials or asbestos content; Greek-custody material history remains undocumented.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-bradford-dd545-09

11. [11]Port of Los Angeles / LA Harbor Department, Jones & Stokes historic-resource evaluation, Southwest Marine terminal (Berth 240) - the former Bethlehem Steel San Pedro shipyard site (2009; includes tables of destroyers built at the Bethlehem yard) [other_primary]

    Locator

    kentico.portoflosangeles.org B243_245_2009 Memo Report (Jones & Stokes, 2009), Appendix A

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Government-commissioned (LAHD) historic-resource evaluation of the Berth 240 terminal documents the Bethlehem Steel San Pedro/Terminal Island shipyard where this hull was built 1942-43, including an appendix table of destroyers built there during WWII - an archival lead for builder-yard context and potentially hull-level build documentation.

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-27

    Study period

    1942-1945

    Population

    Bethlehem San Pedro yard workforce 1942-43

    Limitations

    Yard-history documentation, not hull material documentation; the PDF did not respond to direct fetch (HTTP 403) so contents are known from the indexed description, not full text. Whether its destroyer table lists DD-545 specifically is unverified. No asbestos content asserted.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-bradford-dd545-10