Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
-
[1]research packet eu-packet.md (6 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-edison-dd439-pkt-eu-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, Edison (DD-439) (builder, dates, specifications block, service narrative; live NHHC page returns 404 - ibiblio transcription cited, verified against Wayback capture 2017-01-10 of history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/edison.html) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry, specifications block + full service narrative (Wayback 2017-01-10 capture of the NHHC page confirms canonical text; live NHHC 404)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull: named for Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931); launched 23 November 1940 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J., sponsored by Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, widow of the inventor; commissioned 31 January 1941, Lt. Comdr. A. C. Murdaugh in command. Spec block: 1,630 t, 348'1" x 36'1" x 11'10", 33 kt, cpl. 208, 5x5", 10x21" tt, 6 dcp., 2 dct., 'cl. Benson'. East-coast training and Argentia runs; first Iceland convoy escort November 1941; departed Norfolk 24 October 1942 for Operation Torch - engaged shore batteries at Cape Fedhala 8 November; Norfolk 1 December; Gulf tanker escort; New York/Norfolk convoys to Casablanca and Oran. Mediterranean July 1943-February 1944: Sicily fire support 10 July; Algiers/Bizerte convoys; Salerno assault-transport screen and fire support 9 September; 16 December screened Woolsey (DD-437) sinking U-73 and picked up 11 survivors; off Anzio 21 January 1944, fire support and escort until February; overhaul; returned to Mediterranean 1 May 1944; southern France invasion 15 August; shore bombardment and patrol through year-end; New York overhaul from 17 January 1945; convoy to Havre April-May; departed New York 8 June 1945 for the Pacific; training at Pearl Harbor at war's end; Japan occupation September; Aleutians weather station from 3 November; San Francisco 30 December; out of commission in reserve at Charleston 18 May 1946, later Philadelphia, 'where she lay at end of 1962'. Six battle stars.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1940-1962
- Population
- Federal Shipbuilding construction trades 1940-41; wartime and reserve-era crew (design complement 208, wartime ~276)
- Limitations
- DANFS documents service history and specifications, not materials or asbestos content. Entry predates the 1966 strike/sale (cutoff 'end of 1962'). Spec block labels the class 'Benson' - the Benson/Gleaves subclass boundary is ambiguous across references; carried as Gleaves-class per NavSource and class data, conflict flagged in gaps. The ibiblio transcription garbles the spec block ('6 6"' for '5 5"', '38 k.' for '33 k.', '6 dct., 2 act.' for '6 dcp., 2 dct.'); the Wayback capture of the NHHC page supplies the canonical text.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-01
-
[3]Destroyer History Foundation, USS Edison (DD-439) ship page (compiled from DANFS, Dailey 'Joining the War at Sea', Roscoe and Morison) [other_primary]
- Locator
- destroyerhistory.org/benson-gleavesclass/ussedison - 'DANFS History' page plus narrative additions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Foundation ship page for this hull adds detail the DANFS entry omits: laid down 18 March 1940 at Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, alongside Ericsson (DD-440) - the two launched the same day, 23 November 1940, Edison christened by the inventor's widow in a ceremony attended by son Charles Edison (later Secretary of the Navy and Governor of New Jersey). Edison formed Destroyer Division 25 of Destroyer Squadron 13 with Woolsey, Ludlow and Bristol. Torch detail: Fedhala (Mohammedia). Husky detail: RAdm. Richard L. Conolly's Licata ('Joss') attack force, fire support at Molla. Salerno detail: followed cruiser Philadelphia through an unswept minefield, destroyed twelve Tiger tanks on direct fire and exhausted 5-inch ammunition at Paestum - the action a 36th Division artillery commander (Brig. Gen. John Lange) saluted. Anzio detail: fire-support area X-ray off Nettuno 24 January with Ludlow and Gleaves; VI Corps right flank near Littoria 28 January; assault phase complete 2 February. Southern France: DesRon 16 in RAdm. Morton L. Deyo's 'Camel' bombardment group off Saint-Raphael. Disposal: stricken 1 April 1966, sold 29 December 1966 to Lipsett Inc., Kearny, N.J. Six service stars.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1940-1966
- Population
- USS Edison ship's company 1941-1946
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation (explicitly sourced to DANFS, Dailey, Roscoe and Morison) - cited for unit-assignment and engagement detail DANFS omits and for corroborating disposal dates; contains no materials or asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-02
-
[4]NavSource Naval History, Destroyer Photo Index DD-439 USS Edison (as-built data, operational/building data, photo index incl. NHHC-sourced images) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource DD-439 page: 'As Built' block, 'Operational and Building Data' block, photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Secondary compilation for this hull: 'CLASS - GLEAVES'; As Built - 2,395 t full, 348'4"(oa) x 36'1" x 13'2" max; 4x5"/38AA, 6x0.5" MG, 10x21" tt (2x5); machinery 50,000 shp, Westinghouse geared turbines, 2 screws; 35 kt; crew 208; call sign NIBC. Operational data: laid down 18 March 1940 Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny NJ; launched 23 November 1940; commissioned 31 January 1941; decommissioned 18 May 1946; stricken 1 April 1966; sold 29 December 1966 to Lipsett Inc., Kearny NJ and broken up for scrap. Photo documentation places the hull fitting out at New York Navy Yard in early 1941 (stern visible alongside North Carolina BB-55 and Reuben James DD-245) and off Boston Navy Yard 5 August 1942; underway circa 1942 in Camouflage Measure 12 (Modified), NHHC photo NH 107290.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1940-1966
- Population
- n/a
- Limitations
- Secondary compilation - cited for machinery detail (Westinghouse turbines), as-built fit, disposal dates, and yard-presence photo documentation, not asbestos content. Fit and speed figures conflict with the DANFS spec block (4x5"/38 vs 5x5"; 35 vs 33 kt) - variants carried unmerged in gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-03
-
[5]HyperWar, 'Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945' - DD-439 USS Edison wartime listing (compiled by Patrick Clancey) [other_primary]
- Locator
- ibiblio DD-439_Edison.html specification block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Wartime-listing spec block for this hull: 'Gleaves Class Destroyer'; 1,630 t; 348'4"; 36'0"; draft 17'5"-17'6"; 37 kt; 4x5"/38, 5x21" torpedo tubes; complement 276; 'High-pressure super-heated boilers, geared turbines with twin screws, 50,000 h.p.'; built at Federal, Kearny and commissioned 1941.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1941-1945
- Population
- Wartime crew (~276 per listing)
- Limitations
- Wartime-configuration listing - complement 276 vs 208 and single quintuple torpedo mount vs two reflect wartime fit; conflicts with the DANFS spec block carried unmerged in gaps. No materials or asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-04
-
[6]Era/yard inference - class profile benson-gleaves-class (ships-worktrees/class-f): BuShips Ships' Data 1945 'No. 421 Class' machinery data + Atlas shipyard dataset, Federal Shipbuilding-Kearny record (incl. 1944 Owens-Illinois industrial-health survey of insulation work at the yard) [other_primary]
- Locator
- HyperWar DD-439 spec block ('High-pressure super-heated boilers, geared turbines with twin screws, 50,000 h.p.'); shipyards.json record 'federal-shipbuilding-kearny'; class-f benson-gleaves-class.class.json ev-03/04
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/yard inference: a Gleaves-class destroyer built 1940-41 with four superheated Babcock & Wilcox boilers (575 psi/700F per BuShips class data) and ~50,000-shp geared turbines would have carried period-standard asbestos boiler casing and fireroom insulation, steam-pipe and turbine lagging, valve/flange gaskets and packing, deck tile, and accommodation insulation; builder Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock (Kearny) is documented at yard level in the Atlas dataset, including an Owens-Illinois industrial-health survey of insulation work at the yard (30 August-2 September 1944: Johns-Manville Superex pipe covering, Kaylo boiler insulation, Monokote fireproofing, Garlock gaskets); NARA RG 19 'General Information Books' holding 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
- 1940-1966
- Population
- Federal Shipbuilding construction trades 1940-41; crew 1941-46; reserve-fleet caretakers to 1966
- Limitations
- Class/era and builder-yard inference only - NOT a hull-specific finding. The 1944 yard survey postdates this hull's November 1940 launch and documents yard practice, not materials installed aboard DD-439. Does not quantify material or establish any individual exposure. The class profile documents no ship-specific asbestos record for any of the 96 Benson/Gleaves members.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-05
-
[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 the Navy's asbestos-protection program: standing policy (1975) removed asbestos insulation only when damaged or required for repairs, modified 1979 to selective replacement in high-maintenance areas - i.e., original-era insulation typically remained in place for decades unless a yard period disturbed it. The report places this hull's construction (1940-41) and entire commissioned service (1941-46) inside the documented asbestos-use era.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation, not hull-specific; the report's fieldwork yards (Long Beach, Norfolk) are not among this hull's documented yards, and its policy window (1970s) postdates the hull's entire existence - she was scrapped in 1966-67. gao.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches; product-page description used, full text not retrieved.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-06
-
[8]CourtListener API v4 sweeps, 2026-09-27 (see search_ledger sl-05 through sl-08) [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-edison-dd439-05 through sl-uss-edison-dd439-08
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- No qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull located, after document-level review of every surface hit: 'USS Edison' opinion search returned 0 hits; 'U.S.S. Edison'/'aboard the Edison'/'aboard Edison' opinion search returned 0 hits; 'DD-439'/'DD 439' opinion search returned 1 hit that is a docket-number collision (City of Boulder City v. District Court (Hunt), Nev. 2020 - not the ship). RECAP docket search 'USS Edison'/'U.S.S. Edison' returned 2 dockets: (1) Livernois v. Air and Liquid Systems Corp. (N.D. Cal. 4:19-cv-02277-SBA), a qualifying-form asbestos personal-injury case whose Notice of Removal (Dkt. 1, para. 26, p.8) recites that plaintiff William Livernois 'was allegedly exposed to asbestos containing products while serving as a Boiler Tech aboard naval vessels, including USS Norfolk, USS Charles Sperry, USS Edison, USS Tingey, USS O'Brien, USS Picking, USS Haley Powell, and USS Rowen' - but the complaint (Dkt. 1-1, Exhibit A, para. 7) alleges Navy service 'from approximately 1957 to 1978,' a window beginning eleven years after this hull's 18 May 1946 decommissioning; the 'USS Edison' of that pleading is therefore consistent with USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610, in commission 1962-1983), a different hull, and the case is NOT qualifying as to DD-439; (2) In re Captain Juan, Inc. (D. Mass. 1:19-cv-10719), an admiralty limitation action - non-asbestos, unrelated. A contextual 'Edison AND asbestos AND (navy OR destroyer OR DD-439)' opinion sweep returned 54 hits; all reviewed results are name collisions dominated by corporate/utility Edison references (Con Edison, McGraw-Edison, Edison Electric Institute amici in MDL opinions) - none names a vessel.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 2026-09-27
- Limitations
- Sweep covers CourtListener-indexed opinion and RECAP docket text only; un-indexed dockets, state-court filings, and non-digitized records are outside coverage. Absence of located litigation does not mean none exists. Livernois resolved to a different hull on the plaintiff's own pleaded service window (1957-78 vs DD-439's decommissioning 1946); had the window permitted, a pleading-stage allegation would still be an allegation, not a finding. The 54-hit contextual sweep was reviewed at first-page depth (20 results); deeper pagination was not pulled - all reviewed hits were name collisions.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-07
-
[9]Batch-3424 search ledger (this record): DANFS mirror (HyperWar/ibiblio + Wayback capture of NHHC page); Destroyer History Foundation; NavSource compilation; HyperWar wartime listing; GAO product page; CourtListener sweeps; law-firm list pages screened as exclusions [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger, this record (sl-01 through sl-10)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located for DD-439 in the public sources searched (see search_ledger): no asbestos survey, abatement contract, materials inventory, hazmat disclosure, or qualifying asbestos case naming this hull. The single RECAP docket naming 'USS Edison' (Livernois, N.D. Cal. 2019) resolved at document level to a different hull - plaintiff's pleaded Navy service (1957-1978) postdates this hull's 1946 decommissioning and is consistent with SSBN-610 (USS Thomas A. Edison). The hull was stricken 1 April 1966 and sold 29 December 1966 to Lipsett Inc., Kearny, for scrap - before modern asbestos documentation was routine and with no museum-disclosure channel; the class profile's member sweep likewise located no ship-specific asbestos record for any Benson/Gleaves hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 2026-09-27
- Population
- n/a
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - era-standard applications are documented at class level (ev-05) and litigation coverage is limited to CourtListener-indexed text (ev-07). The hull no longer exists, so present-day ACM status is moot.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-08
-
[10]NARA archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction order): RG 24 Navy deck logs covering DD-439's 1941-46 service; RG 19 Bureau of Ships records incl. 'General Information Books' per-vessel material specs; NHHC photo NH 107290 (underway, Camouflage Measure 12 Modified, circa 1942) [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov RG-24 guide page; daileyint.com/seawar/seatoc.htm; NavSource DD-439 photo captions (NH 107290)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Record-group mapping only: NARA RG 24 deck logs for this hull (1941-46) would carry engineering-casualty and yard-availability detail; RG 19 General Information Books may hold per-vessel material specifications (the archival lead where hull-level insulation schedules would surface); NavSource photo captions already document New York Navy Yard (early 1941) and Boston Navy Yard (5 August 1942) presence for this hull. A published firsthand narrative exists for this hull: 'Joining the War at Sea, 1939-1945' by Capt. Franklyn E. Dailey Jr., USNR (Ret.), Edison's wartime gunnery officer (4th edition; author's site daileyint.com hosts excerpts) - the only full-length memoir centered on this hull and a lead for engineering-space and overhaul descriptions.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-27
- Study period
- 1941-1946 (records created)
- Population
- n/a
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping and published-memoir lead only - not evidence about this hull's materials. No box-level retrieval performed; the NARA Catalog is a JavaScript-only application and could not be queried programmatically this pass. The Dailey memoir is a private publication; excerpts consulted did not establish materials content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-edison-dd439-09