Evidence
13 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-13).
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[1]research packet pw-packet.md (1 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: USS LCI(L)-555 (no name assigned — hull-numbered craft)
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-pkt-pw-packet-md
-
[2]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LCI(L)-555 - construction, commissioning, campaigns, flotilla reassignment, occupation service, disposal, specifications (live page verified 2026-09-30; history credited to Turner Publishing 'USS LCI Landing Craft Infantry' Vol. II, 1995) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/15/150555.htm header block, campaign table, disposition block, specifications block, and crew-photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large); call sign NFVE; laid down 15 January 1944 at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.; launched 14 February 1944; commissioned USS LCI(L)-555, 18 February 1944, LTjg. Jack Flinn USNR in command. Assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater with campaign credits for convoy UGS-38 (20 April 1944), the Invasion of Normandy (6-25 June 1944), and the Invasion of Southern France (15-22 August 1944). A crew-donated photo caption places her heading for Dog Red Beach at Omaha Beach approximately 1030 on D-Day, 6 June 1944. In May 1945 reassigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater - LCI Flotilla Thirty-Eight (LCDR J. P. Moore), LCI Group One Hundred Nine (LCDR J. W. Detwiler USNR), LCI Division Two Hundred Eighteen. Post-war Occupation service in the Far East 2 September - 22 October 1945. Struck from the Naval Register 5 June 1946; transferred to the Maritime Commission 10 July 1947; final disposition fate unknown. Three battle stars for WWII service; ribbon display: American Campaign Medal, Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (3), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal (Asia clasp). Spec block: 236 t. light / 264 t. landing / 419 t. loaded; 158'5.5" x 23'3"; 16 kts max (14 continuous); complement 4 officers + 24 enlisted; troop capacity 6 officers + 182 enlisted; 75 tons cargo; 2-inch plastic splinter protection on gun turrets, conning tower, pilot house; 5 x single 20mm guns; endurance 4,000 miles at 12 kts; propulsion two sets of 4 GM 6051-series-71 diesels (4 per shaft), GM main reduction gears, two 30 kW 120V DC diesel-drive ship's service generators, twin variable-pitch propellers, 2,320 shp.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1947
- Population
- NJSB construction trades (Jan-Feb 1944); crew 4 officers + 24 enlisted (1944-46); embarked troops up to ~188
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation - not a primary registry; dates generally track official records. Three claims here are independently corroborated (builder/delivery by the shipbuilding-history build table; Normandy and Southern France operations by this hull's digitized NARA reports). NavSource prints no decommissioning date or EAME flotilla/group assignment for this hull. Contains no asbestos or material content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-01
-
[3]Shipbuilding-history LCI(L) build table (Naval Marine Archive mirror of the Colton shipbuilding data), LCI(L)-555 row; plus the New Jersey Shipbuilding yard page (navalmarinearchive.com/sbh/shipyards/emergencysmall/newjersey.html) [other_primary]
- Locator
- navalmarinearchive.com/sbh/smallships/lcil.html hull-table row 555; navalmarinearchive.com/sbh/shipyards/emergencysmall/newjersey.html hull list
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The build table lists: LCI(L) | hull 555 | New Jersey SB, Barber NJ | 18-Feb-44 | 'To NDRF 1948' - corroborating the builder, yard location, and delivery date on the NavSource page, and adding a National Defense Reserve Fleet lay-up in 1948 that NavSource's 'fate unknown' leaves open. The yard-level page lists 'LCI(L) | 555 | US Navy | Landing Craft | Feb-44 | Struck 1946' - consistent with the 5 June 1946 Naval Register strike.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1948
- Population
- NJSB Barber yard trades (1944); NDRF caretaker personnel (1948+)
- Limitations
- Secondary reference table - corroboration of builder/date/disposition, not a primary contract record. 'To NDRF 1948' documents reserve-fleet lay-up but not the ultimate fate (sale, scrapping, or transfer unrecorded in the table). No asbestos or material content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-02
-
[4]NARA catalog, NAID 78474015 - 'USS LCI(L) 555 - Act Rep of Landings on Coast of Normandy, France, 6/6/44' (RG 38, World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories, series NAID 4697018; micro serial 76340; dated 6/12/1944; 6 digitized images) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov/id/78474015 - file-unit description and 6-image viewer
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- A digitized US Navy action report authored by this hull covers her part in the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944 - direct primary documentation of the 'Invasion of Normandy' campaign credit on the NavSource page, consistent with the crew-photo caption placing her off Dog Red Beach, Omaha, mid-morning on D-Day.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-06-06 (operation); report dated 1944-06-12
- Population
- LCI(L)-555 crew during the Normandy assault
- Limitations
- Catalog metadata verified live (title, NAID, RG 38 series, serial 76340, 6 images online); page-image contents not individually reviewed. An operational/action report - documents the operation, not material condition. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-03
-
[5]NARA catalog, NAID 78630602 - 'USS LCI(L) 555 - Rep of Ops, Period 8/10-22/44 Invasion of Southern France' (RG 38, same series; 2 digitized images) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov/id/78630602 - file-unit description and 2-image viewer
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- A digitized US Navy operations report authored by this hull covers the period 10-22 August 1944 for the Invasion of Southern France - direct primary documentation of the 'Invasion of southern France, 15 to 22 August 1944' campaign credit on the NavSource page.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-08-10 to 1944-08-22
- Population
- LCI(L)-555 crew during Operation Dragoon
- Limitations
- Catalog metadata verified live (title, NAID, series, 2 images online); page-image contents not individually reviewed. An operational report - not a material record. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-04
-
[6]NARA catalog - this hull's digitized war diaries: NAID 78353706 (3/1-31/44), 78400577 (4/1-30/44), 78448621 (5/1-31/44), 78664446 (9/1-10/31/44), 139769967 (11/1-30/44); plus group-level COM LCI(L) GR 33 diaries (6/44, 8/1-9/12/44, 10/44, 11/44) and COM LCI(L) GR 109 diaries (11/45, 1/1-22/46) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov/id/78400577, /id/78353706, /id/78448621, /id/78664446, /id/139769967 (hull diaries); /id/78511573, /id/139734982, /id/78669270, /id/78711805 (GR 33); /id/140083619, /id/77617125 (GR 109)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The hull's own monthly war diaries are digitized in RG 38 for March, April, May, September-October, and November 1944 - the April 1944 diary (NAID 78400577, 8 images) covers the convoy UGS-38 transit attacked 20 April 1944 that NavSource credits as a campaign. Group-level war diaries surfaced in the hull's catalog search include COM LCI(L) GR 33 (Mediterranean phase, mid-1944) and COM LCI(L) GR 109 (Pacific phase into January 1946 - matching NavSource's 'LCI Group One Hundred Nine' assignment).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-03 to 1946-01 (diary coverage)
- Population
- LCI(L)-555 crew (1944-45); flotilla/group staff
- Limitations
- Catalog metadata verified live; page-image contents not individually reviewed. Hull-specific war diaries are this ship's records; the group-level diaries are command records - LCI(L)-555's membership in Group 33 rests on the catalog search association and was not independently confirmed inside page images; Group 109 membership comes from NavSource. Operational records - no material or asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-05
-
[7]NARA catalog, NAID 78414882 - 'USS COMNAVNAW - Rep Of Air Attack on Convoy UGS-38, 4/20/44 - Mediterranean' (RG 38, same WWII War Diaries series; micro serial 71874, serial 00647, dated 5/8/1944; 3 digitized images; located via DPLA mirror dp.la/item/9c3b5eb8bb413d46cc1b4e09725cdbaf) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov/id/78414882 - file-unit description and 3-image viewer
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Context for this hull's 'Convoy UGS-38, 20 April 1944' campaign credit: a digitized COMNAVNAW report documents the German air attack on convoy UGS-38 on 20 April 1944 in the Mediterranean - the action for which the single-day convoy credit was awarded. This hull's own April 1944 war diary (NAID 78400577) covers that month.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-04-20
- Population
- convoy UGS-38 escorts and merchant crews (20 Apr 1944)
- Limitations
- Convoy-level context record authored by COMNAVNAW, not by this hull - it documents that the convoy was attacked on the credited date, not what LCI(L)-555 did during it. Catalog metadata verified live (title, NAID, 3 images online); page-image contents not individually reviewed. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-06
-
[8]NARA catalog, NAID 120194692 - 'LCI(L) 555 - Muster Rolls' (119 digitized images, Ancestry partnership, first roll dated 31 March 1944) [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov/id/120194692 - file-unit description and 119-image viewer
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Digitized muster rolls for this hull - 119 scanned images beginning 31 March 1944 - provide the crew-by-name roster resource for the US Navy service period.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- LCI(L)-555 crew (1944-46 reporting periods)
- Limitations
- Catalog metadata verified live; page-image contents not individually reviewed. Muster rolls are personnel records - they document who served, not material condition; no asbestos content. Not mined for names in this record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-07
-
[9]NARA Special List No. 44, List of Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Miscellaneous Units, 1801-1947 - ship-number sequence, PDF page 25; the list document itself is digitized as catalog NAID 178406296 (RG 64, M248 roll 40, 836 images) [other_primary]
- Locator
- sl-44-ship-number.pdf, PDF page 25, row 'LCI(L)-555 2/18/1944 6/30/1945' (verified via pdftotext extraction); catalog.archives.gov/id/178406296
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Special List 44 (by ship number) lists Navy deck logs held by NARA for LCI(L)-555 covering 2/18/1944-6/30/1945 - logbook coverage running from her commissioning date through mid-1945 (log-coverage dates, not commissioning evidence). The window ends while she was still in US service (occupation duty ran through 22 October 1945 and Group 109 records run to January 1946), so post-June-1945 volumes are not shown in this list.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-02-18 to 1945-06-30
- Population
- LCI(L)-555 crew (1944-45 logging window)
- Limitations
- Archival lead: the list establishes that logs exist in NARA holdings for that window. A catalog search returned no per-month digitized deck-log file unit titled for LCI(L)-555, so these logs were not located online - physical-holdings lead only. A deck log is an operational record, not a material survey. Harlan's memoir reports using the ship's log 'from commissioning to decommissioning' - a coverage wider than the listed window; unresolved (see gaps).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-08
-
[10]Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, 'A Memory of D-Day' (Ray Smock, 7 June 2016) - on Louis R. Harlan's service aboard LCI(L)-555 and his memoir 'All at Sea: Coming of Age in World War II' (University of Illinois Press, 1996) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- byrdcenter.org/blog/a-memory-of-d-day - article text (memoir: University of Illinois Press 1996, ISBN 0-252-02232-7)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- A named crew member's documented account: historian Louis R. Harlan (1984 Pulitzer Prize, biography of Booker T. Washington) served aboard LCI(L)-555 as a junior officer and was off Dog Red Beach, Omaha, on 6 June 1944 - consistent with the NavSource photo caption and the hull's own Normandy action report. His 1996 memoir 'All at Sea: Coming of Age in World War II' covers the ship; the Byrd Center article records that he worked from the ship's official log located at the National Archives, covering the vessel 'from commissioning to decommissioning.' The article names his skipper as Harold 'Cotton' Clark.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1946 (memoir coverage)
- Population
- Ens./LTjg. Louis R. Harlan; skipper Harold 'Cotton' Clark; shipmate Russell Tye
- Limitations
- A crew memoir and a civic-history center article - personal/institutional narrative, not a material record. The 'commissioning to decommissioning' log coverage Harlan reports is wider than the SL44 listing (2/18/1944-6/30/1945) and is carried as an unresolved variant (see gaps). Makes no asbestos claim for Harlan or any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-09
-
[11]Era inference built on: NavSource specifications block (GM 6051-series-71 diesel plant, diesel-drive generators - no steam plant); GAO HRD-80-2 (Navy asbestos-use era, ev-11); NARA physical logbook holdings (ev-08) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource specifications block; shipyards.json yard list (no NJ Shipbuilding entry); GAO HRD-80-2 context
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A diesel-powered landing craft built January-February 1944 sits squarely inside the Navy's documented asbestos-use era. Era-standard applications aboard a small diesel craft of this type were diesel exhaust and muffler lagging, gaskets and valve packing in engine and piping systems, electrical insulation on wiring and in control panels, and thermal insulation in the confined machinery spaces. As a diesel vessel she carried no steam plant - the boiler/turbine lagging pathway of steam ships does not apply.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1944-1948
- Population
- NJSB construction trades (1944); crew 28 (1944-46); embarked troops (transient, up to ~188); NDRF caretakers (1948+)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation schedule, material list, builder's spec sheet, or work package located for LCI(L)-555. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity, no manufacturer attribution. New Jersey Shipbuilding is not in the Atlas shipyards.json dataset, so no yard-level product list was attached.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-10
-
[12]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked, HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented that the Navy used asbestos insulation extensively aboard ships and did not begin substituting alternative insulation materials until the early 1970s - spanning this hull's entire construction (1944) and US Navy service era (1944-46).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403, confirmed 2026-09-30) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-11
-
[13]Batch-5276 search ledger (this record): NavSource hull page; shipbuilding-history build table and NJ Shipbuilding yard page; NARA catalog (Normandy and Southern France reports, five hull war diaries, group diaries, 119-image muster rolls); NARA Special List 44 PDF; NHHC DANFS and NVR checks; CourtListener opinion + docket searches; MARAD vessel-history search; secondary web sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or verified litigation naming USS LCI(L)-555 was found in the public sources searched. CourtListener WAS searched this session: opinion queries 'USS LCI(L)-555', 'LCI(L)-555', 'LCI-555', 'LCI 555', 'LCI(L) 555' all returned zero; the docket/recap search returned one hit (Warner Bros. Records Inc. v. Doe, N.D. Cal. 4:08-cv-01195, copyright) - a text collision on the LCI/555 strings, not a vessel or asbestos case. Law-firm boilerplate enumerating landing ships generically (e.g., gorilaw.com landing-ships page) is excluded by source policy. The hull's post-USN trail (Maritime Commission 1947, NDRF 1948, fate unknown) forecloses the museum/abatement documentation that produces ship-specific asbestos records.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-30
- Study period
- 2026-09-30
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard. Undigitized deck logs (SL44 window 2/18/1944-6/30/1945, plus post-June-1945 volumes per the Harlan account), NJSB build records, and NDRF/MARAD disposition files are open leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-555-lcil555-12