Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
-
[1]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Hornbill II (YMS-371)', Naval History and Heritage Command (published 2015-07-20; live URL 404 on 2026-09-23 - text verified via Wayback capture 2023-09-26 and NHHC-sourced transcription at koreanwar.org) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry 'Hornbill II (YMS-371)'; Wayback capture https://web.archive.org/web/20230926062327/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/hornbill-ii.html
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The second Hornbill (YMS-371) was launched 27 November 1943 by Weaver Shipyards, Orange, Tex., and commissioned 29 February 1944, Lt. J. L. Grace in command. She operated in the Gulf of Mexico until summer 1945, transited the Panama Canal to Okinawa (arrived 5 July) for minesweeping, then departed 17 August for Japan to sweep mines in Tokyo Bay, around Honshu, and at the Sasebo naval base. She ended occupation duties 16 February 1946, reached San Pedro 4 April; on 7 February 1947 was named Hornbill and reclassified AMS-19. She served as a training ship on the West Coast and at Pearl Harbor until 1953, then with the U.S. Naval Schools of Mine Warfare, Yorktown, Va.; reclassified MSC(O)-19 on 17 February 1955; decommissioned September 1957; struck from the Naval Register 1 November 1959 and sold 30 June 1960. Earned two battle stars for WWII service. DANFS stats line: dp. 270; l. 136'; b. 25'; s. 15 k.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 1942-1960
- Population
- Crew of USS YMS-371 / USS Hornbill (1944-1957)
- Limitations
- Establishes identity and service chronology only. DANFS gives no laid-down date, complement, or propulsion detail and contains no asbestos or insulation-material content - supports no exposure finding. Rename/reclassification dates here are DANFS dates; NavSource diverges (see ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-09).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-01
-
[2]Naval History and Heritage Command FAQ 69-2, 'Allied Ships Present in Tokyo Bay During the Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945' (sourced to CINCPAC/CINCPOA A16-3/FF12 Serial 0395, 11 February 1946, Report of Surrender and Occupation of Japan) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- FAQ 69-2 'Motor Mine Sweeper (YMS)' section; Wayback capture https://web.archive.org/web/20141008025838/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The official CINCPAC/CINCPOA-derived NHHC list of Allied ships present in Tokyo Bay during the 2 September 1945 surrender ceremony includes YMS-371 under 'Motor Mine Sweeper (YMS)', annotated as the ship later named USS Hornbill (AMS-19). This places the hull in Tokyo Bay for the surrender - consistent with the DANFS minesweeping narrative.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 1945-09-02
- Population
- Crew of YMS-371, September 1945
- Limitations
- Presence list only - documents the hull's location on one date, not conditions, materials, or crew exposures aboard. The NHHC live FAQ URL is no longer reachable; text verified via Wayback capture 2014-10-08.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-02
-
[3]NavSource Online Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive, 'Hornbill (MSC[O] 19) ex-Hornbill (AMS 19) ex-YMS-371' [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource page 11/19371.htm; live fetch blocked - text verified via Wayback capture 2024-05-24
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource chronology and specifications for the hull: laid down 17 November 1942 by Weaver Shipyards, Orange, TX; launched 27 November 1943; completed and commissioned USS YMS-371, 29 February 1944; decommissioned 1 June 1946; named Hornbill and reclassified AMS-19 on 18 February 1947; assigned Naval Reserve training duty at San Francisco November 1948; reclassified MSC(O)-19 on 7 February 1955; decommissioned September 1957; struck 1 November 1959; sold 1961 to C. D. Anderson of San Antonio, TX and renamed Los Buscaderos (tug); sold 1963 to San Juan Towing and Salvage Corp., Guaynabo, PR and renamed Peacock (freighter); out of documentation November 1976; believed sunk 1979 off Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island, CA. Specs: 270 t., 136' x 22'9" x 6'3", 14.5 kts., complement 50, one 3"/50 DP mount and two 20mm mounts, two 880-bhp GM 8-268A diesels with Snow and Knobstedt single-reduction gear, two shafts.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 1942-1979
- Population
- Crew and later merchant crews (1944-1976)
- Limitations
- NavSource is the authoritative identity/spec source here but diverges from DANFS on the AMS-19 rename (18 vs 7 Feb 1947), MSC(O)-19 date (7 vs 17 Feb 1955), and sale (1961 vs 30 June 1960) - DANFS adopted as controlling, divergences logged. 'Believed sunk' and the merchant-era name chain are not confirmed by any official source; the Scorpion Anchorage wreck identity is unverified. No asbestos or materials content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-03
-
[4]Shipbuilding History (T. Colton), 'Weaver Shipyards, Orange TX' yard production table and yard history [other_primary]
- Locator
- weaver.htm production table, YMS 371 row; yard-history header text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Weaver Shipyards production table lists YMS-371, US Navy minesweeper, 278 GT, delivered 29 February 1944, disposition 'Reclassified 1947 as Hornbill (AMS 19), sold 1960'. The yard history documents that Weaver Shipyards (successor to Joseph Weaver and Son, est. 1897) won contracts in 1941-42 to construct wooden minesweepers and sub chasers at Orange, TX.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 1942-1944
- Population
- Weaver Shipyards construction workforce, Orange TX (1942-44)
- Limitations
- Builder-level production table - confirms hull type, tonnage, and delivery date, not construction materials or insulation content. 'Sold 1960' aligns with DANFS rather than NavSource's 1961 private sale; treated as consistent with the government disposal date. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-04
-
[5]NavSource Auxiliary Minesweeper (YMS) index + Shipbuilding History 'Yard Minesweepers' overview - YMS-1-class program documentation [other_primary]
- Locator
- navsource.org/archives/11/19idx.htm program history; shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net/us-navy-small/ym/
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- YMS-1-class documentation establishes that 561 wooden-hulled motor minesweepers of essentially one design (136 ft) were built by 35 yacht/boat yards in 1942-45, powered by two GM 8-268A diesel engines rather than steam plant; YMS-371 sits in the YMS-135 subclass (single stack). Asbestos-relevant inference only: a wooden-hulled diesel sweeper lacked boilers, steam drums, and steam-line lagging - the largest asbestos applications aboard steam-driven steel combatants - so era-typical asbestos aboard the type is limited to smaller items (engine/exhaust lagging, gaskets, packing, electrical insulation, friction materials).
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 1942-1945
- Population
- YMS-class crews and construction workers generally (1942-45)
- Limitations
- Class/program documentation, not a hull record - does not name YMS-371 and states no materials manifest. The inference runs toward REDUCED asbestos scope relative to steam combatants; it cannot establish presence, absence, or quantity aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-05
-
[6]CourtListener API v4 searches (authenticated): opinions '"USS Hornbill" asbestos', '"Hornbill" minesweeper OR navy OR ship', '"YMS-371"', '"AMS-19" asbestos', '"Hornbill" asbestos'; dockets '"USS Hornbill"', '"Hornbill" navy', '"YMS-371"'; opinions '"Weaver Shipyards" AND asbestos' [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-hornbill-ams19-05 through sl-uss-hornbill-ams19-07
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- No qualifying asbestos litigation located: zero opinion hits for the hull under any designation, and zero docketed cases naming USS Hornbill, AMS-19, MSC(O)-19, or YMS-371. The single 'Hornbill' opinion hit (Padgett v. Department of Agriculture, D.D.C. 2024) is a name collision on non-ship terms. The two '"Weaver Shipyards" AND asbestos' opinion hits (Gregoire v. Enterprise Marine Services, E.D. La. 2014; Goldsby v. Celotex Corp., W.D. Mo. 1984, 591 F. Supp. 615) invoke Weaver Shipyards only through the Rule 9(h) admiralty precedent T.N.T. Marine Service v. Weaver Shipyards & Dry Docks (702 F.2d 585, 5th Cir. 1983) - neither alleges asbestos exposure at the yard or aboard any Weaver-built hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 2026-09-23
- Limitations
- CourtListener indexes published opinions and RECAP dockets; unindexed state-court filings, settled claims, and trust claims are invisible to it. Absence of a located case does not prove no claim was ever filed; classified at the least-final stage by design - a complaint would be an allegation, and none was even located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-06
-
[7]Batch-1691 search ledger (this record): DANFS/NHHC, NHHC FAQ 69-2, NavSource ship page, Weaver yard table, YMS-class program pages, CourtListener opinion/docket searches, NARA catalog series check [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-hornbill-ams19-01 through sl-uss-hornbill-ams19-09
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, materials manifest, or medical/litigation document naming YMS-371, Hornbill, AMS-19, or MSC(O)-19 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 2026-09-23
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard; equally, the wooden-hulled diesel design narrows the plausible asbestos scope relative to steam ships. Does not establish or defeat any exposure or eligibility claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-07
-
[8]National Archives, Record Group 24 (Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel), series 'Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941-1983' (NAID 594258); batch/fleet verification note: wartime U.S. deck logs for this vessel are listed under 'YMS-371' in the National Archives Catalog [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov search-within series 594258, query 'YMS-371'; series page archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival lead (not retrieved): the ship's wartime deck logs are held in RG 24 series 594258 and are listed under the YMS-371 designation. Deck logs chronicle daily movements, operations, and personnel events - they can corroborate the Okinawa/Tokyo Bay/Sasebo minesweeping chronology and any underway maintenance, but are not materials records.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Crew of YMS-371 (log subjects)
- Limitations
- Series-level verification only - the National Archives Catalog is JS-rendered and the YMS-371 file units were not opened; per the batch brief the logs are listed under the YMS number. Log contents unsurveyed; nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-08
-
[9]Source reconciliation across DANFS (NHHC), NavSource 11/19371.htm, and uboat.net ship 9790 record [other_primary]
- Locator
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-01 vs ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-03; uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/9790.html
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Date conflicts resolved by adopting DANFS (official) as controlling: (a) AMS-19 naming/reclassification - DANFS 7 February 1947 vs NavSource 18 February 1947 (uboat.net agrees with DANFS); (b) MSC(O)-19 reclassification - DANFS 17 February 1955 vs NavSource 7 February 1955 (uboat.net and NavalCoverMuseum agree with NavSource's 7 Feb - majority but non-official); (c) disposal - DANFS 'sold 30 June 1960' and the Weaver yard table 'sold 1960' vs NavSource 'sold in 1961 to C. D. Anderson' - treated as government sale date (1960) vs subsequent private transaction (1961), not necessarily contradictory; (d) NavSource's 'Decommissioned 1 June 1946' fills the gap between her April 1946 San Pedro arrival and 1947 reclassification, consistent with DANFS silence.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-23
- Study period
- 1946-1961
- Limitations
- Document-level reconciliation - the 1947 and 1955 date divergences cannot be fully resolved without the underlying reclassification directives (likely Bureau of Ships directives; not located). Residual divergence logged in gaps. No asbestos content in any reconciled source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-hornbill-ams19-09