Evidence
7 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-7).
-
[1]DANFS, Flier (SS-250) - Electric Boat construction; mined in Balabac Strait 13 August 1944; eight survivors rescued by Redfin (verbatim transcription; live NHHC page returned 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS service narrative and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: laid down 30 October 1942 at Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; launched 11 July 1943 (sponsor Mrs. A. S. Pierce); commissioned 18 October 1943, Lt. Comdr. J. W. Crowley in command. Grounding damage near Midway on her first patrol forced a return to the west coast for repairs. On patrol west of Luzon June-July 1944 she sank a large transport and damaged other shipping. On the evening of 13 August 1944, transiting Balabac Strait on the surface at 15 knots, she struck a mine and sank in 20-30 seconds; men escaped through the conning-tower hatch (13 per DANFS, 14 per the Navy News account) and eight reached Mantangula Island after about 15 hours in the water, where coastwatchers arranged rescue by Redfin (SS-272) on the night of 30-31 August. One battle star; 10,380 tons sunk.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; no asbestos or material content. Yard-period asbestos disturbance is era inference, not a per-hull record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-flier-ss250-01
-
[2]NavSource Online Submarine Photo Archive, header 'as built' spec block and disposition line for this hull; corroborated by DANFS spec block (diesel-electric) and BuShips Ships' Data 1945 submarine machinery tables (via shipscribe.com, per Gato class profile) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource page header spec block for this hull (https://www.navsource.net/archives/08/08250.htm)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Machinery fit for this hull per NavSource 'as built' spec block: diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines (5,400 hp), four General Electric main motors (2,740 hp), two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws. NO BOILERS and no steam plant - the asbestos-relevant machinery profile differs materially from steam classes (no boiler/furnace insulation, no steam-line lagging run-outs; exposure-relevant systems are diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets/packing, hull thermal/acoustic insulation, and auxiliary equipment).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- The NavSource spec block is a class-standard spec sheet, not a per-hull machinery survey - actual installed equipment is presumed class-typical and unverified for this specific hull. No hull-specific machinery or material list was located. Establishes propulsion type only, not fiber content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-flier-ss250-02
-
[3]Gato class profile ev-gato-class-07 (era/design inference for diesel-electric fleet boats) built on navypedia member table and BuShips Ships' Data 1945; GAO HRD-80-2 for the Navy's era asbestos-use regime [other_primary]
- Locator
- class profile gato-class.class.json ev-07; GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era inference for diesel-electric fleet boats of this build period: era-standard applications likely included asbestos-containing diesel exhaust lagging, engine gaskets and packing, hull thermal and acoustic insulation, insulation around galley/refrigeration equipment, and electrical/battery materials.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- CLASS/ERA INFERENCE ONLY - no ship-specific material schedule, insulation survey, or asbestos product list was located for this hull. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials; no quantity. Does not establish exposure or eligibility for any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-flier-ss250-03
-
[4]CourtListener API v4 (opinions type=o, RECAP dockets type=r) exact-name and hull-number searches; site:courtlistener.com index sweep as throttling fallback [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Litigation sweep for this hull: CourtListener API queries were throttled at the daily cap (HTTP 429, 'expected available in 62981 seconds'), so the sweep ran on the site:courtlistener.com index fallback for "USS Flier" and "SS-250". The fallback surfaced only general Navy asbestos litigation - nothing naming this hull. No qualifying asbestos litigation - and no litigation of any kind verified as naming this hull - was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- A negative result is bounded by the search mechanism: CourtListener coverage is not exhaustive for state-court pleadings, and the API throttle meant docket-text and opinion queries could not complete - the site:-index fallback is corroboration, not a substitute for docket search. Does not prove no litigation exists.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-flier-ss250-04
-
[5]Negative finding: no qualifying non-litigation ship-specific asbestos record located across DANFS/NHHC (via hazegray/losthistory transcription and Wayback captures), NavSource, and ACM-survey/abatement/disposal sweeps [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows for this vessel
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No hull ACM survey, abatement contract, scrapping/disposal hazmat disclosure, or adjudicated exposure finding naming this vessel was located anywhere in the research sweep. The hull is a war grave in Balabac Strait - no postwar material record is possible and none exists in located sources.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Limitations
- Absence of a located record is not proof no record exists. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present aboard/within the hull, and does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-flier-ss250-05
-
[6]U.S. Navy Submarine Losses in World War II (official loss summary, HyperWar/ibiblio mirror) - Flier survivor account [other_primary]
- Locator
- SS_losses-flier.html - sinking account and survivor narrative
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- War-loss terminal event for this hull per the official Navy submarine-loss summary: at 2200 on 13 August 1944, transiting Balabac Strait on the surface at 15 knots, a terrific explosion estimated forward on the starboard side shook the ship; within 20-30 seconds Flier sank while still making way. The commanding officer's opinion was that the explosion was caused by contact with a mine. Fourteen men were seen in the water after she went down; some were lost during the night swim, and eight survivors reached Mantangula Island and were rescued by Redfin (SS-272) 30-31 August.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944
- Population
- Crew of USS Flier - 8 survivors of ~80
- Limitations
- Documents the terminal event only; wreck-site material condition is undocumented and unsurveyed. Strike date not recorded in located sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-flier-ss250-06
-
[7]Navy News Service item N-1159B-021 (Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon, news.navy.mil) as carried in NavSource page captions - secondary compilation, labeled as such [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 08250 captions quoting NNS item N-1159B-021
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Wreck identification for this hull: in spring 2009 divers Mike and Warren Fletcher (with a Canadian film crew) located submarine wreckage in Balabac Strait; the U.S. Navy was alerted and confirmed in 2010 that the wreck, lying 330 feet below the surface, was USS Flier. A memorial ceremony was held at the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum in August 2010.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 2009-2010
- Population
- Families of the lost crew; memorial participants
- Limitations
- Wreck-discovery reporting is secondhand via NavSource captions quoting the Navy News Service release - labeled as such rather than as a directly located NHHC release. Documents wreck location/confirmation only - no material-condition or hazmat survey was reported.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-flier-ss250-07