Evidence
6 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-6).
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[1]DANFS entry 'Leyte III (CV-32)', NHHC migrated edition [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Construction paragraph and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS entry documents construction: laid down as Crown Point 21 February 1944 at Newport News, Va., renamed Leyte before launch 23 August 1945, and commissioned at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va., 11 April 1946, Capt. Henry F. MacComsey in command. DANFS spec block: displacement 27,100 tons, complement 3,448, class Essex.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Leyte crew (3,448 per spec block)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific build record only - no materials content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-leyte-cv32-01
-
[2]DANFS entry 'Leyte III (CV-32)' + NHHC Online Library CV-32 page [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 1950-59 sections; OL summary
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Service and yard periods per DANFS and Online Library: Atlantic/Mediterranean deployments 1947-50; Korean War combat October 1950-January 1951 (~4,000 sorties; Lt. (j.g.) Thomas J. Hudner Jr.'s Medal of Honor action); overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard on return February 1951; two more Mediterranean deployments; reclassified CVA-32 1 October 1952; arrived Boston Naval Shipyard 16 February 1953 for expected deactivation, retained and converted to ASW carrier CVS-32 - suffering an explosion in her port catapult machinery room on 15 October 1953 (DANFS; the Online Library gives 16 October - see gaps) that killed 37 men and injured 28, including civilian workmen; returned to the fleet January 1954; interim amphibious assault ship role 1957; pre-inactivation overhaul at New York Naval Shipyard from January 1959; decommissioned at New York 15 May 1959 and simultaneously reclassified AVT-10.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1946-1959
- Population
- Crew casualties of the 16 Oct 1953 explosion (37 killed); yard workforces at Norfolk NSY, Boston NSY, New York Naval Shipyard
- Limitations
- Documents three yard overhauls plus the Boston NSY conversion with a fatal explosion/fire during the work - exposure-relevant settings, not an asbestos record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-leyte-cv32-02
-
[3]DANFS entry 'Leyte III (CV-32)'; NHHC Online Library CV-32 page; NHHC Naval Aviation appendix (app03.pdf) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS final paragraph; OL final paragraph; app03 CV-32 row
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Disposal per DANFS and appendix: remained in reserve a decade (Philadelphia group, later Bayonne MOT graving dock; March 1969 inspection found her 'unfit for further service'); stricken 1 June 1969; sold at public sale to Portsmouth Salvage Co., Chesapeake, Va., 4 August 1970 and removed from naval custody 24 September 1970 (OL: 'sold for scrapping in September 1970').
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1959-1970
- Population
- None
- Limitations
- Sale vs removal dates (4 Aug / 24 Sep 1970) reconcile the sources; OL rounds to September.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-leyte-cv32-03
-
[4]Kirks v. General Electric Co., Civ. No. 08-856-SLR (D. Del.), Memorandum Opinion, 17 September 2009 [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion Background section (service recital); Conclusion
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Published D. Del. memorandum opinion on motions to remand in companion asbestos actions: the court recites that 'Wilbert Kirks served aboard the USS Leyte between 1953 and 1957 as a boatswain's mate, and allegedly was exposed to asbestos through turbines manufactured by GE'; Kirks died of mesothelioma 7 May 2007. The court DENIED remand (federal-officer removal upheld) in an opinion covering Kirks and the companion Wiersma (USS Wright) case.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1953-1957 (service); 2009 (opinion)
- Population
- Decedent Wilbert Kirks, boatswain's mate aboard CV-32 1953-57; alleged asbestos exposure via GE turbines, mesothelioma
- Limitations
- Pleading-allegation stage: the opinion recites the complaint's allegations in a removal posture - 'allegedly was exposed' - and decided only jurisdiction; no exposure, product, or causation fact adjudicated. Names a product family (GE turbines) at allegation level.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-leyte-cv32-04
-
[5]Batch-56 search ledger (this record): govinfo USCOURTS sweeps; ded.uscourts.gov opinion; DANFS; NHHC OL; appendix; web searches [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-leyte-cv32-01 through -08
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No adjudicated ship-specific asbestos finding exists for this hull: the Kirks record sits at pleading stage; no insulation survey, abatement contract, or dismantlement hazmat disclosure naming CV-32 was located; and no opinion identifies a specific asbestos-containing product aboard this ship at fact-finding level.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 2026-09-18
- Population
- None
- Limitations
- Negative on adjudicated/surveyed documentation only - a ship-named allegation exists (Kirks). Notably, the Kirks exposure period (1953-57) brackets the October 1953 Boston NSY explosion-and-fire conversion period.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-leyte-cv32-05
-
[6]Essex-class profile (class-a/essex-class.class.json); O'Neil v. Crane Co., 53 Cal. 4th 335 (2012) for era Navy spec context [other_primary]
- Locator
- class profile era-application list; O'Neil steam-system specification discussion
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class/era context: Essex/Ticonderoga-class carriers were built 1941-45 under peak-era Navy insulation specifications - the class record for this profile lists eight boilers feeding four geared steam turbines, and the published O'Neil record (Cal. Supreme Court 2012, on sister ship USS Oriskany) confirms Navy specifications of the era required asbestos-containing insulation and gasket/packing materials on warship steam systems. Era-typical applications for the class: boiler/fireroom insulation, steam-pipe lagging, turbine lagging, valve and flange gaskets and packing, deck tile, bulkhead insulation, and cable insulation.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-18
- Study period
- 1944-1946 (construction era)
- Population
- None
- Limitations
- Era-standard application list plus a sister-ship appellate record - prioritizes research only; it is NOT a ship-specific finding and does not confirm installed materials on this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-leyte-cv32-06