Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
-
[1]research packet hb-packet.md (3 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-duncan-dd874-pkt-hb-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, Duncan III (DD-874) - builder, dates, service narrative (verbatim transcription at ibiblio HyperWar; live NHHC page https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/duncan-iii.html returns 404; identical text confirmed in Wayback captures 2021-01-29 and 2025-12-09) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry, specifications block + service narrative (ibiblio mirror dd874.html; NHHC duncan-iii.html via Wayback 2025-12-09)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull: third ship named for Commander Silas Duncan (1788-1834). Launched 27 October 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.; sponsored by Mrs. D. C. Thayer; commissioned 25 February 1945, Comdr. P. D. Williams in command; reclassified DDR-874 on 18 March 1949. Converted to a radar picket destroyer during her post-shakedown overhaul; sailed from Norfolk 2 June 1945; screened Cabot (CVL-28) during the Wake Island strikes of 1 August; 7th Fleet patrol duty off China and Korea during occupation landings at Tsingtao, Taku, and Jinsen; Far East duty to 25 March 1946; San Diego 28 April 1946. On 1 March 1948 an explosion aboard killed 2 and injured 14; repairs at Long Beach, Calif. Eight-month western Pacific cruise January 1949; three Korean-war tours from November 1950 (plane guard, antisubmarine escort for battleships, shore bombardment, minesweeping interdiction); alternating Far East/west coast duty through the 1950s; at end of 1960 in Long Beach Naval Shipyard undergoing extensive overhaul and modernization. Spec block: dp 2,425; l 390'6"; b 41'1"; dr 18'6"; s 34 k.; cpl 367; cl Gearing. Seven battle stars for Korean service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1944-1960 (entry coverage)
- Population
- Consolidated Steel construction trades 1944-45; wartime through Vietnam-era crew (design complement 367 per spec block)
- Limitations
- DANFS documents identity, builder, service history, and specifications - not materials or asbestos content. The printed entry predates the ship's final decade: it ends in 1960 and contains no decommissioning, striking, or disposal data (entry was published before those events). Live NHHC page returns 404; the ibiblio HyperWar transcription and Wayback captures of the NHHC page carry the identical text.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-01
-
[3]Lannes ex rel. Estate of Lannes v. Flowserve U.S., Inc., 628 F. App'x 957 (9th Cir. Oct. 14, 2015) (unpublished memorandum, Nos. 13-56391, 13-56393, 13-56397; Kozinski, O'Scannlain, Bybee JJ.), affirming summary judgment, C.D. Cal. consolidated asbestos actions incl. No. 2:12-cv-01876 [court_record]
- Locator
- Memorandum pp. 1-3 (causation frame; Lowell recitals; disposition 'so we AFFIRM'); OpenJurist 628 F. App'x volume listing p. 957
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull: in consolidated wrongful-death asbestos actions, plaintiffs Jeffrey Lannes and Kristi Johnson appealed the district court's grant of summary judgment for Flowserve U.S. Inc., Jerguson Gage & Valve Co., and Warren Pumps LLC. The Ninth Circuit affirmed. The memorandum recites that the plaintiffs were required to show the defendants 'manufactured, sold, or supplied' the 'asbestos-laden gaskets, packing, or insulation to which decedent Vernon Lannes was exposed when he worked on the USS Fletcher and the USS Duncan during his naval service' (quoting O'Neil v. Crane Co.). It further recites that plaintiffs' expert, retired Navy Captain William Lowell, 'could conclude only that Lannes was exposed to replacement parts that contained asbestos' aboard the ships, and that plaintiffs could not tie any of the three defendants' products to that exposure - summary judgment affirmed on product-identification grounds. Hull attribution: DD-485 was sunk 13 October 1942; the only USS Duncan in commission during any post-1942 naval service was DD-874.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1945-1971 (exposure window implied by hull attribution); 2012-2015 (litigation)
- Population
- Vernon Lannes (decedent, USN service aboard USS Fletcher and USS Duncan; era not stated in the memorandum but bounded to post-1945 by Duncan's commission dates)
- Limitations
- Merits-stage record ending in a defense win: the exposure allegation aboard USS Duncan is recited as the case's factual frame, never adjudicated - the Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment because plaintiffs could not identify the three defendants' products, not because exposure was found or disproven. Does not establish causation, product identity, quantities, or materials originally aboard; the expert reached 'exposure to asbestos-containing replacement parts' only, and expressly lacked documentary supply evidence. Unpublished memorandum - nonprecedential under 9th Cir. R. 36-3. Full text was read via an opinion aggregator (exa.ai) because CourtListener pacing blocked API retrieval; the F. App'x reporter cite is verified via OpenJurist's volume listing.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-02
-
[4]Jeffrey J Lannes v. Air and Liquid Systems Corporation, No. 2:12-cv-01876 (C.D. Cal., filed 2012-03-05, terminated 2013-08-09; cause '28:1441 Notice of Removal - Asbestos Litigation'; nature of suit 'P.I. : Asbestos') + In re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation (No. VI), MDL No. 875 tag-along notice 2011-06-14 (attachment: Miller et al v. Air and Liquid Systems Corp., N.D. Cal. No. 4:11-cv-02814, complaint docket sheet) [court_record]
- Locator
- cl-auth-search.py type=r response 2026-09-28 (count 2, document_count 3); Lannes docket 5844701 (doc 101 civil minutes OSC re D. Minn. transfer); MDL-875 docket 1245688 ECF 7359-3
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener docket index (type=r, authenticated fleet helper, 2026-09-28): exact-name query "USS Duncan" returned 2 dockets (3 indexed documents), both asbestos. (1) Lannes v. Air and Liquid Systems Corp., C.D. Cal. 2:12-cv-01876 - the federal removal docket of the consolidated action that produced the Ninth Circuit memorandum in ev-02; the vessel names USS Fletcher and USS Duncan as the decedent's service/exposure vessels. (2) MDL-875 tag-along notices (J.P.M.L., filed 2011-06) attaching complaint docket sheets for the consolidated Miller et al v. Air and Liquid Systems Corp. asbestos removals, N.D. Cal. Nos. 4:11-cv-02814 and 4:11-cv-02685 - 'USS Duncan' appears in that complaint material's indexed text; whether the ship is an alleged exposure vessel or a collateral reference (party/work-history list) is unresolved from the index.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 2011-2015 (litigation)
- Population
- Vernon Lannes estate plaintiffs; Miller consolidated asbestos plaintiffs (N.D. Cal.)
- Limitations
- The Lannes docket is verified-qualifying only through the appellate memorandum (ev-02), which is the merits-stage record of that action - the docket itself is removal/remand posture. The Miller tag-along 'USS Duncan' match is index-level: the complaint's filing text was not retrievable in this pass, and 'Duncan' could be a vessel name or a party/surname string - classified down to an unverified reference rather than a qualifying exposure claim. Hull-number queries "DD-874"/"DDR-874" were queued but the fleet pacing budget was spent before they could run - sweep completeness is bounded in gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-03
-
[5]National Archives, Ship Plan Index, DUNCAN, DDR-874, Record Group 19, Hull series of Ship Engineering Drawings, NAID 153714931 [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ship Plan Index table row 'DUNCAN | DDR-874 | 19 | Hull series of Ship Engineering Drawings | 153714931'
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The National Archives Ship Plan Index lists USS Duncan under its radar-picket designation DDR-874 in Record Group 19 (Bureau of Ships), Hull series of Ship Engineering Drawings, file unit NAID 153714931. This identifies an archival series of per-hull engineering drawings - the class of record in which original material specifications (including insulation) would appear - held at Archives II, College Park.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- index current as accessed 2026-09-28
- Limitations
- Index listing only - the underlying drawings were not retrieved or inspected, and the index does not describe their contents. It does not establish asbestos content, shipboard materials, or exposure. The same index shows unrelated DUNCAN rows for DD-44 (trial curves), DD-46, and DD-485 - the DDR-874 hull-series row is the one matching this vessel.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-04
-
[6]National Archives, 'Navy Deck Logs Available in the National Archives Catalog' (Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1992, NAID 594258; Vietnam-era logs digitized under the Blue Water Navy/VA project) [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov deck-log pages (series description + digitized-logs status); catalog search 'Duncan' within NAID 594258 not executed
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's deck-log program documentation: the Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations series (1941-1992, NAID 594258) holds chronological ship records, and Vietnam-era deck logs were digitized under the NARA-VA Blue Water Navy agreement with images being added to the National Archives Catalog in batches. USS Duncan's deck logs (commissioned 1945-1971, including Vietnam-era WestPac service documented in secondary compilations) fall within this series' coverage and are the authoritative source for post-1960 operations, yard availabilities, and decommissioning detail.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1945-1971
- Population
- Crew of USS Duncan 1945-1971 (records population, not exposure population)
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation only - the National Archives Catalog is JavaScript-rendered and did not return results to automated fetch, so the presence and digitization status of specific DD-874 log volumes is unverified. Deck logs do not normally itemize insulation materials; they are a service-history and yard-event lead.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-05
-
[7]NavSource Naval History, Destroyer Photo Index DD-874 / DDR-874 USS Duncan (operational/building data, FRAM completion June 1961, disposition and 1980 target sinking; accessed via Wayback capture 2024-11-27 - live navsource.org fetch failed) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource DD-874 page, 'Operational and Building Data' + 'Fate' lines (Wayback 2024-11-27)
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- Final material disposition of the hull: NavSource's operational/building data block reads 'Completed FRAM upgrade June 1961. Decommissioned January 15 1971. Stricken September 1 1973.' and 'Fate - Sunk as target off California, July 31 1980, location 031deg 00' 00.7" North, 120deg 00' 00.3" West, depth 2160 fathoms.' Whatever material remained aboard at sinking went down with the ship; no pre-sinking environmental or hazardous-material survey was located in any source reviewed.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1961-1980
- Population
- Crew through 1971; Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility custodial staff 1971-1980; target-towing/shooting exercise personnel 1980
- Limitations
- NavSource is a reputable volunteer secondary compilation, not an official record - the decommissioning/strike/sinking dates are consistent across navysite.de, the Naval Cover Museum wiki, and the class profile (stricken 1973-09), but conflict with Wikipedia's stricken 1974-02-01 (carried in gaps). No official disposal document was located. The coordinates/depth are NavSource-reported only. FRAM mark level not stated by NavSource ('FRAM upgrade'); navysite.de reads FRAM II, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, October 1960-June 1961 - consistent with DANFS's 'extensive overhaul and modernization' at LBNSY but the Mark designation itself is secondary.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-06
-
[8]Gearing-class technical data (DANFS spec block; NavSource machinery line) + Goodrich v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., Omnibus Opinion and Order, ECF No. 171, E.D. Va. No. 4:17-cv-00009 (2018-09-28) - class-litigation recitals; Destroyer History Foundation Gearing class page (radar-picket conversion program: DDs 873-877 selected January 1945) [other_primary]
- Locator
- DANFS spec block + narrative; NavSource DD-874 machinery line; Goodrich ECF 171 (class-level recitals); destroyerhistory.org Gearing class page (picket-conversion paragraph)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference for this hull: a Gearing-class destroyer built 1944-45 with a high-pressure superheated steam plant (4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, GE geared turbines, 60,000 shp) was built at the peak of Navy asbestos use; era-standard applications include boiler casing and fireroom insulation, turbine lagging, steam-line lagging, valve and flange gaskets, packing, fireproofing, and deck coverings. Class-level corroboration: the Goodrich omnibus opinion recites an engineering drawing for forced-draft blower turbine insulation/lagging covering the Sumner design 'within which' Gearing machinery fell, specifying amosite felts and asbestos cloths, and quotes an expert partial tally of 30.3 tons of asbestos-containing thermal insulation/lagging in Sumner/Gearing fire and engine rooms. Hull-level events consistent with that inference: 1945 post-shakedown radar-picket conversion (the DD-873-877 conversions were performed at Boston and Norfolk Navy Yards per the Destroyer History Foundation's class history), 1948 explosion repairs at Long Beach, and the 1960-61 Long Beach Naval Shipyard overhaul - yard events in which machinery-space insulation would have been disturbed under era practice.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1944-1971
- Population
- Consolidated Steel trades 1944-45; conversion/repair/FRAM yard workers (Norfolk or Boston NY 1945; Long Beach 1948, 1960-61); crew 1945-1971
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - the Goodrich drawing covers class machinery, not this hull specifically; the 30.3-ton figure is an expert partial tally recited in litigation, not an adjudicated class quantity or a hull inventory (underlying exhibits not retrieved). Ship-specific asbestos documentation for DD-874 is limited to the Lannes allegation (ev-02/03); no survey or material schedule names this hull. The specific yard for Duncan's 1945 picket conversion is inferred from class history + the Norfolk departure; FRAM mark level (II) is secondary-sourced.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-07
-
[9]USS Duncan Reunion Association official association website (ussduncan.org, via Wayback; 'Duncan's Divisions History', ship pages, 'Duncan mission actions and ordnance expenditure 1967-1970' roster, Vietnam gunfire-mission audio materials) [other_primary]
- Locator
- ussduncan.org home page + '874div_history_page' + 'Duncan mission action' links (Wayback captures)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Post-1960 service detail rests on the crew-association compilation: the association site documents the ship's Vietnam-era gunline role ('USS Duncan DDR 874 Gunfire Mission off Vietnam' - 1967 engagement with North Vietnamese shore batteries) and hosts a 'mission actions and ordnance expended with results for the period 1967-1970' roster; it styles the ship 'Galloping Ghost of the Korean Coast.' This fills the DANFS gap 1961-1971 at association-source confidence only: repeated WestPac/Vietnam deployments 1965-1970 are consistent with the ship's documented role but not officially verified here.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1961-1971
- Population
- Vietnam-era crew (gunline deployments 1965-1970)
- Limitations
- Veteran-association compilation, not an official record; live site is defunct (HTTP 521) and content was read via the Wayback Machine. Deployment dates, the nickname, and combat details are association-reported; deck logs/CORs (ev-05 archival lead) are the authoritative source. No asbestos or materials content is documented by the association site.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-08
-
[10]Batch-3839 search ledger (this record): DANFS via ibiblio + NHHC Wayback; NHHC photo-collection page; NavSource; navysite.de/NavalCoverMuseum cross-checks; ussduncan.org association archive; NARA Ship Plan Index + deck-log series documentation; Atlas shipyard registry; general-web asbestos trace; CourtListener opinion + docket sweeps [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-duncan-dd874-01 through sl-uss-duncan-dd874-12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Beyond the Lannes litigation record (ev-02/03), no ship-specific asbestos record was located for this hull: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, museum documentation, or additional docketed case naming DD-874 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). Web asbestos hits for this hull trace to law-firm marketing ship lists (e.g., mesotheliomasymptoms.com's DD-874 page) - excluded per source rules; none cites a case, survey, or document. The hull was expended as a target in 1980 with no pre-sinking material survey located; present-day material verification is impossible.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 2026-09-28
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - the class/era inference in ev-07 stands on its own footing and the Lannes row documents litigation-level exposure allegations. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-duncan-dd874-09