Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
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[1]DANFS, Hollandia (CVE-97) entry (1968, Vol. 3, p.349) - live NHHC page returns HTTP 404 (2026-09-19, same link rot observed in batches 01/249); verbatim ibiblio HyperWar transcription cited; hazegray losthistory.net mirror agrees verbatim [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- ibiblio HyperWar DANFS transcription, CVE-97 Hollandia entry - spec block and full service narrative
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS documents: formerly AVG-97 and ACV-97; launched under Maritime Commission contract as Astrolabe Bay (CVE-97) by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., 28 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William H. Wheat; renamed Hollandia 30 May 1944; commissioned 1 June 1944, Captain C. L. Lee in command. Shakedown San Diego to Espiritu Santo departing 10 July 1944 carrying replacement aircraft; returned via Manus and Guadalcanal to Port Hueneme 27 August; ensuing months of supply/passenger runs between the U.S. and Manus, Ulithi, and Guam. Anchored at Ulithi 1 April 1945 at the start of the Okinawa assault; underway next day to operate off the Okinawan coast sending fighters to support advancing troops; returned to San Diego 1 May 1945. Pearl Harbor cargo/passenger round trip; departed 7 June, loaded replacement aircraft at Pearl Harbor, sailed 18 June to operate with 3d Fleet's logistic supply unit; final two months of the war ferrying replacement aircraft to the fast task forces striking Japan. Post-surrender conversion at Guam to a passenger ship; four Operation 'Magic-Carpet' voyages; returned to San Pedro; departed 4 February 1946, arrived Puget Sound 15 February; decommissioned 17 January 1947. Reclassified in reserve to CVU-97, 12 June 1955, and to AKV-33, 7 May 1959; sold to Eisenberg & Co., New York, July 1960, later scrapped. Two battle stars WWII. Spec block: dp. 7,800; l. 512'3"; b. 65'; ew. 108'1"; dr. 22'6"; s. 19 k.; cpl. 860; a. 1 5", 16 40mm.; cl. Casablanca; T. S4-S2-BB3.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 1944-1960
- Population
- Kaiser Vancouver construction trades (1944); ship's company and embarked squadrons (1944-1947); Magic Carpet passengers (1945-1946); Puget Sound inactivation trades (1946-1947)
- Limitations
- Documents construction, service, redesignation, and sale/disposal spine; contains no insulation, material, or asbestos information. DANFS does not state the laid-down date or the stricken date - both carried from NavSource and the NHHC aviation appendix (see ev-02, ev-03).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-01
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[2]NavSource Online, Escort Carrier Photo Archive, USS Hollandia (CVE-97/CVU-97/AKV-33) - data block, awards, NARA/U.S. Navy photo captions, commanding-officer page (03/097co.htm) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource CVE-97 page - building/operational data block, awards block, CO page, NARA photo captions; NARA ID 77654530 cross-reference
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource documents: keel laid 12 Feb 1944 (a date DANFS omits); built by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash.; initially named Astrolabe Bay; renamed Hollandia 30 May 1944; commissioned 1 Jun 1944; decommissioned 17 Jan 1947; reclassified CVU-97 12 Jun 1955 and AKV-33 7 May 1959 in reserve; stricken from the Navy list 1 Apr 1960 and sold for scrap in July that year. Data block: armament 1 x 5"/38AA, 8 x 40mm, 12 x 20mm, 27 aircraft; machinery 9,000 IHP, 2 Skinner Uniflow engines, 2 screws; crew 860. Awards: American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2 stars); WWII Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal 'Asia' clasp. Commanding officers: Capt. Charles L. Lee (1 Jun 1944-5 May 1945), Capt. John T. Brown Jr. (5 May-3 Sep 1945), Capt. Calvin E. Wakeman (3 Sep 1945-20 Jun 1946), Lt. Cdr. Adolph Mencin (to 10 Sep 1946), Lt. Oliver F. Heimer Jr. (through decommissioning 17 Jan 1947). Captioned NARA/U.S. Navy photographs document: VMF-312 'Day's Knights' F4U-1D Corsairs launching from Hollandia off Okinawa, April 1945 (from the 1944-1947 Cruise Book); the Magic Carpet passenger-ship conversion - bunk rooms built into a former 40mm ammunition clipping room and troops berthed on the hangar deck (NARA 80-G-353729, 80-G-353732, 80-G-353734); arrival at NAS Alameda 29 November 1945 carrying 1,100 servicemen from Eniwetok and Kwajalein (NHHC photo NH 106721). NavSource cites NARA catalog ID 77654530 as the ship's 'War History' source for its U.S. Navy photo scans.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 1944-1960
- Population
- Same populations as DANFS row; VMF-312 embarked squadron (April 1945)
- Limitations
- Compiled secondary source consistent with DANFS on overlapping facts; armament print (8 x 40mm, 12 x 20mm) differs from DANFS's (16 x 40mm) - era-fit variance flagged in gaps. Photo captions document conversion work aboard but contain no asbestos or material-fiber information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-02
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[3]NHHC, 'Appendix 3: Aviation Ships' (official NHHC research publication, naval aviation appendices) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC Aviation Appendices, Appendix 3 PDF, escort-carrier section, hull-97 row
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The NHHC aviation-ships appendix line for hull 97 reads: 'Hollandia 1 Jun 1944 CVU 97 12 Jun 1955 Stricken 1 Apr 1960 / 17 Jan 1947 AKV 33 7 May 1959' - official corroboration of the commission date, the 12 June 1955 CVU-97 and 7 May 1959 AKV-33 reserve redesignations, the 17 January 1947 decommissioning, and the 1 April 1960 striking.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 1944-1960
- Limitations
- Designation/date corroboration only; no service narrative and no material or asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-03
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[4]hazegray.org, Andrew Toppan, 'World Aircraft Carriers List: US Escort Carriers, S4 Hulls' (revised 1998-12-14; live page unreachable, 2021-11-22 Wayback capture used) + shipbuildinghistory.com Kaiser Vancouver production table [other_primary]
- Locator
- us_esc2.htm Hollandia row + Casablanca class block; shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/kvancouver.htm row 343
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- hazegray's Hollandia row documents: ex-Astrolabe Bay, MC Hull 343 (Kaiser yard number - see gaps on MC/yard numbering); CVE 97 - CVU 97 - AKV 33; laid down 12 Feb 1944, launched 28 April 1944, renamed 30 May 1944, commissioned 1 June 1944; 'Served only as a transport and training carrier'; decommissioned to reserve 17 Jan 1947; stricken for disposal 1 April 1960; 'Sold and scrapped in Japan 11/60.' shipbuildinghistory's Kaiser Vancouver table corroborates: row 343, Astrolabe Bay, type S4-S2-BB3, MC hull 1134, delivered Jun-44, 'CVE 97, renamed Hollandia, scrapped 1960.' The class block documents the S4-S2-BB3 design basis, VTE reciprocating machinery on 2 shafts with 4 285-psi boilers (9,000 hp, 19 knots), wartime AA augmentation to 8 twin 40mm + 30 single 20mm, and the class-wide postwar disposal pattern.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 1944-1960
- Population
- 1960 dismantlement trades (Japan, per hazegray)
- Limitations
- Compiled secondary sources corroborating DANFS/NavSource; the Japan November 1960 scrapping detail is carried only from hazegray - DANFS names the buyer (Eisenberg & Co., New York, July 1960) but no breaking site, and NavSource prints only 'sold for scrap in July.' hazegray prints 'MC Hull 343' where shipbuildinghistory prints MC hull 1134 / Kaiser yard hull 343 - numbering-basis variance flagged in gaps. No material or asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-04
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[5]U.S. Navy, Bureau of Ships Technical Manual, NAVSHIPS 250-000, Chapter 39 'Thermal Insulation' (1960, page date 15 April 1959) - specification-level document for Navy shipboard insulation materials + Casablanca-class profile (ships-worktrees class-d/casablanca-class.class.json, row ev-casablanca-class-05) [other_primary]
- Locator
- BuShips TM ch.39, sections 39-11 through 39-13 (materials); NavSource/DANFS spec block (Uniflow engines, B&W boilers per class profile)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference for a Casablanca-class escort carrier: the class's 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 2 Skinner Uniflow reciprocating steam engines, and associated steam piping are the equipment classes covered by the BuShips Technical Manual ch.39 material suite - MIL-P-2781 pipe covering including 85% magnesia 'formed from a combination of 85 percent magnesium carbonate with about 15 percent asbestos fiber' and a class 'formed from a uniform mixture of amosite asbestos fibers'; roll asbestos felt MIL-I-15091; asbestos cloth/tape SS-C-466 (80-95% chrysotile) as lagging; asbestos millboard HH-M-351; asbestos finishing cement; molded asbestos block for high-temperature service. This hull's construction window (laid down 12 Feb 1944, commissioned 1 Jun 1944) sits inside the Navy's peak asbestos-specification era, and she was scrapped in 1960, before the substitution era.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 1960 (manual); describes era-standard specifications
- Population
- Kaiser Vancouver construction trades (1944); ship's company (1944-1947); Puget Sound inactivation trades (1946-1947); 1960 dismantlement trades
- Limitations
- Class/era specification inference only - does not establish that any asbestos-containing material is or was installed aboard this hull, and does not establish quantity, individual exposure, or present-day presence. No hull-specific insulation survey or material list was located. The retrieved PDF is a scan hosted in a bankruptcy Daubert-appendix repository; the document itself is the government manual (verified legible in batch-54/66/247/249 work).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-05
-
[6]Washington State Department of Ecology, cleanup site page 'Kaiser Shipyard Debris Pile' (csid 1831) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ecology site record - site history paragraph (Kaiser Vancouver yard role and fill debris)
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- Washington State Dept. of Ecology cleanup-site record for the 'Kaiser Shipyard Debris Pile': in 1942 the site was developed as part of the Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard, which 'was responsible for construction of liberty ships, escort carriers, and transport ships used during World War II'; shipyard debris (metal, pipes, firebrick, ceramics) was used as fill 1940-1946. This is the yard that built this hull (yard no. 343).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 1940-1946 yard operations
- Population
- Kaiser Vancouver shipyard workers (1940-1946)
- Limitations
- Official state environmental record confirming the builder yard's escort-carrier program and industrial debris stream; the record does not itself list asbestos among documented debris constituents. Yard-level context only - no hull-specific material data.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-06
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[7]Braaten v. Saberhagen Holdings, Inc., 165 Wn.2d 373, 198 P.3d 1010 (Wash. 2008) [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion, 165 Wn.2d 373 (No. 80146-4)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Washington Supreme Court opinion documenting the shipboard asbestos-maintenance regime at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard through the career of pipefitter William Braaten (1967-2002), who developed mesothelioma; the court held manufacturers had no duty to warn of asbestos in other makers' products applied to their equipment - a defense win on duty grounds. Documents the era asbestos environment at the naval shipyard where this hull spent her inactivation period (arrived 15 February 1946; decommissioned there 17 January 1947).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 1967-2008
- Population
- PSNS pipefitter (mesothelioma)
- Limitations
- Yard-level litigation context only: Braaten's PSNS tenure (1967-2002) postdates this hull's 1946-47 inactivation period by roughly two decades and the opinion does not name this hull or adjudicate exposure aboard any vessel. Carried because the PSNS inactivation period is documented (DANFS); the decision is a merits-level negative for those plaintiffs, not exposure evidence.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-07
-
[8]Batch-268 search ledger (this record): live NHHC DANFS probe; ibiblio + hazegray DANFS transcriptions; NavSource; NHHC aviation appendix; hazegray us_esc2; shipbuildinghistory; navypedia class row; CourtListener API + domain-index sweep; VA BVA index sweep; general web trace [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-hollandia-cve97-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located for CVE-97: no asbestos survey, insulation specification, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or litigation naming THIS hull was found in the public sources searched - under any identity (Astrolabe Bay, USS Hollandia, CVE-97, CVU-97, AKV-33, MC hull 1134). CourtListener API v4 returned HTTP 429 (shared 125/day cap) on 2026-09-19, so name/hull sweeps ran through the courtlistener.com-domain index: 'Hollandia' hits resolve to Hollandia Dairy, Inc. trademark litigation in D. Hawaii - a corporate name collision, not the ship; 'USS Hollandia'/'CVE-97' sweeps return generic Navy-asbestos dockets naming other vessels (Henderson/USS Barney, Horton/USS Cascade, Zimmerman/USS Bluefish). VA BVA decisions indexed for the name returned no Hollandia decision. USS Hollandia (CVE-97) does appear on law-firm marketing ship lists (shepardlawfirm.com; mesolawcenter.com/Throneberry; asbestos-ships.com; navyshipexposure.com 'equipment manifest') - competitor sources, excluded per batch rules; a marketing list is not a claim.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- 2026-09-19
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a Feb-Jun 1944 Kaiser Vancouver construction sits inside the Navy's asbestos-specification era, and the negative reflects record availability, not hull condition. CourtListener API was rate-limited (HTTP 429) on 2026-09-19; the domain-index sweep is a degraded method with partial coverage, logged in the ledger. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-08
-
[9]NARA Catalog record 77654530 - the ship's 'War History' file, cited by NavSource as the source of its U.S. Navy photo scans; plus ship-produced materials referenced on the NavSource page ('Old 97 - The Story of the U.S.S. Hollandia' by Lt. Arthur C. Walsh; 1944-1945 and 1944-1947 cruise books) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource CVE-97 page photo-source links to catalog.archives.gov/id/77654530; memorabilia and cruise-book captions
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- A digitized Hollandia war-history file exists at NARA (catalog ID 77654530) - NavSource cites it as the source for the U.S. Navy photographs reproduced on the CVE-97 page (gunnery instruction, shakedown passengers, crossing-the-line ceremony, hangar-bay views). The NARA catalog is JS-rendered and the record could not be retrieved programmatically this session, so its contents are unexamined; the ship's own operational history file may contain material detail the published sources lack. Ship-produced ephemera (the 'Old 97' booklet, two cruise books, plank-owner and shellback certificates) are documented as existing but not digitized in the consulted sources.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-19
- Study period
- access attempted 2026-09-19
- Limitations
- Archival lead only - the NARA file's existence and identity are confirmed by NavSource's citation of it, but its contents were not reviewed; whether it contains any material/insulation information is unknown. NARA API attempts returned empty responses (JS-rendered catalog); retrieval requires the catalog UI or reproduction services.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hollandia-cve97-09