Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
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[1]research packet 820-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lsm-235-lsm235-pkt-820-packet-md
-
[2]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. II, NAVSHIPS 250-011 (1945), LSM per-hull build table (shipscribe.com scan); shipbuildinghistory.com Western Pipe & Steel yard table [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB 1945 Vol. II, 'Landing Ship, Medium (LSM)' per-hull table, row 'LSM 235 (ex-LCT(7) 1703)' (printed p. ~151 of the volume; text layer verified by extraction); http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/large/westernpipe.htm row '190 | LSM 235'
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- BuShips Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. II (NAVSHIPS 250-011, 13 April 1945) per-hull table lists: 'LSM 235 (ex-LCT(7) 1703)', built by Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Pedro, Calif.; keel laid 21 March 1944; launched 4 July 1944; first commission 24 August 1944. The shipbuilding-history Western Pipe & Steel yard table independently lists the vessel as San Pedro yard hull 190, delivered 24-Aug-44.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1944
- Population
- Western Pipe & Steel San Pedro construction workforce; commissioning crew
- Limitations
- Official 1945 build table naming this hull; establishes builder, keel, launch, and first-commission dates plus the ex-LCT(7)-1703 designation. Contains no asbestos, insulation-composition, or exposure information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-01
-
[3]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. II, NAVSHIPS 250-011 (1945), LSM design characteristics table and engine-block footnote (shipscribe.com scan) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB 1945 Vol. II, LSM design table; footnote 4 engine-block listing 'LSM 233-252'
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The BuShips 1945 LSM design table assigns General Motors model 16-278A diesel engines to the hull block 'LSM 233-252' (which includes LSM-235); sister block annotation assigns Fairbanks Morse model 38D8 1/8x10 to other hull ranges. Design figures: diesel direct drive, 2 shafts, 2,800 shp; two 100-kW 450-V AC and one 20-kW 120-V DC diesel-driven ship's-service generators; diesel-oil capacity 1,225 bbl; 203 ft 6 in overall; beam 34 ft 6 in; 743 t landing / 1,095 t full-load displacement.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Engine-room crew; machinery maintenance personnel
- Limitations
- Block-level assignment in an official document - the engine footnote names hull ranges, not this hull individually; establishes propulsion plant type for the block containing LSM-235. No asbestos or insulation-composition data in the design table.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-02
-
[4]NavSource Online, Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LSM-235 hull page (history extract from 'LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces', Vol. II, Turner Publishing, 1997, ISBN 1-56311-389-9) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Hull page chronology, campaign table, and final-disposition lines (live page verified 2026-10-01; navsource.net domain, not the dead navsource.org)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- LSM-235 was commissioned USS LSM-235 on 24 August 1944, LTjg. R.W. Isles USNR in command; assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; participated in the Lingayen Gulf landings 9 January 1945 and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto 1 April to 17 June 1945 (under LSM Flotilla Three, LSM Group Nine, LSM Division Eighteen); performed Far East occupation service 4 September to 25 November 1945; decommissioned 16 May 1946 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA; struck from the Naval Register on an unreported date; earned two battle stars; final disposition: donated 17 February 1948 to Port of Newport Authority, Newport, OR, fate unknown.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1944-1948
- Population
- Ship's company (5 officers, 54 enlisted) and embarked troops
- Limitations
- Secondary-compilation hull history (Turner Publishing extract), not an archival document; establishes service timeline and reported disposal. Strike date unknown in source; uboat.net lists the 17 Feb 1948 transfer as 'sold' vs NavSource 'donated' (see gaps). Contains no asbestos or exposure information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-03
-
[5]NavSource Online, Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LSM-235 specifications and commanding-officers table [other_primary]
- Locator
- Specification block and 'Commanding Officers' table
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The hull-page specification block lists: displacement 520 t. light / 743 t. landing / 1,095 t. full; length 203 ft 6 in; beam 34 ft 6 in; complement 5 officers and 54 enlisted with troop accommodations for 2 officers and 46 enlisted; armament one twin bow-mounted 40 mm and four single 20 mm; two GM 16-278A diesels 1,440 BHP each at 720 rpm, 2,800 shp, twin propellers. Commanding officers: LT Raymond Whitfield Isle USNR (24 Aug 1944 - 24 Mar 1945), LT Sydney Robert Weed USNR (to 9 Nov 1945), LT Robert G. Adair USNR (to 10 Jan 1946), LTjg John V. Jackolski USNR (to 16 May 1946).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Ship's company
- Limitations
- Establishes complement, machinery, armament, and CO succession. The page header prints 'LTjg. R.W. Isles' while the officers table prints 'LT. Isle, Raymond Whitfield' - surname spelling conflict noted in gaps. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-04
-
[6]National Archives Catalog file unit NAID 126528201 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA Catalog record; physical: Microfilm Roll 3800, National Archives at College Park; digitized via Ancestry institution collection dbid 1143
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA holds ship-specific muster rolls for LSM-235 covering the full commissioned period: file unit NAID 126528201, titled 'LSM-235, 8/24/44-5/16/46', in the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (NARA record group, control-group NAID 353), series 'Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities' (NAID 594996); microfilm Roll 3800 at NARA College Park; digitized through the NARA-Ancestry collaboration.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Ship's company, 1944-1946
- Limitations
- Catalog-level verification of the record unit's existence and coverage dates; individual muster pages were not reviewed (Ancestry collection is paywalled). Muster rolls document crew assignments - they contain no asbestos or materials data.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-05
-
[7]National Archives Catalog file units NAID 101763056, 139992966, 140002807 (RG 367, WWII War Diaries series) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA Catalog records (also https://catalog.archives.gov/id/139992966 and .../id/140002807); Fold3 images 296594874, 295846303, 296144969
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's WWII War Diaries series (RG 367, Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; series NAID 4697018 'World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories') holds three reports submitted by USS LSM-235: report of operations in the invasion of Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands, 1-9 April 1945 (NAID 101763056, Roll A1775); report of anti-aircraft action off Okinawa Jima, 28 April 1945 (NAID 139992966, Roll A1581); report of anti-aircraft action off Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands, 6 May 1945 (NAID 140002807, Roll A1605). All are digitized via the NARA-Fold3 collaboration.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1945-04 to 1945-05
- Population
- Ship's company during Okinawa operations
- Limitations
- Ship's own combat reports cataloged and digitized; independently corroborates Okinawa operations including AA engagements off Okinawa and Ie Shima. Contents not reviewed page-by-page (Fold3 paywalled); action reports contain no asbestos or materials data.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-06
-
[8]Inference from the ship-specific diesel specification (BuShips SDB 1945 Vol. II design table; NavSource spec block) and the documented source-review negative [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource propulsion/specification block; source-review negative documented in search_ledger
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- No ship-specific asbestos survey, product inventory, abatement record, or condition report was located. LSM-235 had a diesel plant with no boilers or steam system; the era-typical asbestos application categories for a WWII Navy diesel landing ship would be machinery and diesel-exhaust insulation, gaskets, packing, electrical insulation, and deck coverings - possible categories only, none documented aboard this hull.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- WWII Navy diesel landing-ship construction and operating personnel
- Limitations
- Possible application categories only - not a finding that asbestos was installed aboard LSM-235. Neither cited source identifies asbestos or insulation composition; no quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation is established.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-07
-
[9]Franklin v. USX Corp., 87 Cal. App. 4th 615, 105 Cal. Rptr. 2d 11 (Cal. Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2001), No. A091473 [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion 'Facts' and 'Discussion' sections (verified via firecrawl scrape 2026-10-01; direct curl returns HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Franklin v. USX Corp., 87 Cal. App. 4th 615 (2001): on a stipulated record, the California Court of Appeal recited that builder Western Pipe & Steel's WWII shipbuilding contract with the U.S. Maritime Commission 'required the use of ship building materials containing asbestos' and that airborne asbestos was present in areas where plaintiff's parents worked at the WPS South San Francisco yard (1942-1945). A jury verdict exceeding $5M for the plaintiffs was reversed solely on successor-liability grounds - the appellate court held USX was not WPS's successor in interest and did not reach the exposure findings.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1942-1945 (exposure); 2001 (opinion)
- Population
- Western Pipe & Steel South San Francisco yard workforce and household contacts, 1942-1945
- Limitations
- Builder-company-level documentation, not hull-level: the litigated exposure site was the South San Francisco yard under USMC/Navy contracts; LSM-235 was built at WPS's San Pedro yard - the opinion does not separately document asbestos conditions at San Pedro. The reversal was on successor liability; trial-level exposure findings were left intact but concern the SSF premises only. Does not establish asbestos content or exposure aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-08
-
[10]DANFS entry USS LSM-251 (ibiblio HyperWar mirror); shipbuildinghistory LSM master list (navalmarinearchive.com mirror); Port of Newport official history (portofnewport.com/history) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS LSM-251 disposition paragraph (live verified); https://navalmarinearchive.com/sbh/smallships/lsm.html rows for LSM-342/346/251; portofnewport.com/history McLean Point section (1948 concrete-hull dock)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Sibling LSMs donated to the Port of Newport Authority in the same period went to documented commercial second lives: per DANFS, LSM-251 (same builder, donated the same day, 17 February 1948) was sold to Humble Oil & Refining Co., converted to a barge, and sunk off Government Point, California, on 25 November 1961; per the shipbuilding-history LSM tabulation, LSM-342 went to the same port as 'Amazon' and LSM-346 became barge '404'. No equivalent post-donation record was located for LSM-235.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 1948-1961
- Limitations
- Sibling-hull dispositions only - pattern context for where donated LSMs went; does not establish the fate of LSM-235, which remains undocumented after the 1948 donation. The Port of Newport's own published history documents concrete-hull dock foundations, not LSMs, so no dock-foundation inference is made.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-09
-
[11]CourtListener API v4 via /Users/charlesfletcher/devin-prompts/cl-auth-search.py [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger sl-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-06; authenticated exact-name and hull-number queries
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The authenticated CourtListener sweep found no qualifying asbestos litigation record for USS LSM-235. Exact hull-number and exact-name opinion searches returned zero results; the hull-number docket search returned three unrelated matters (prisoner civil rights, marine contract, forfeiture), all classified as name/text collisions and excluded.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 2026-10-01
- Limitations
- This is a search result, not proof that no unindexed or non-text-linked case exists. The three docket collisions do not identify this vessel, its crew, or asbestos exposure aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-10
-
[12]Source-review negative across the repositories listed in the search ledger [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-01 through -11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No ship-specific asbestos documentation was located in the public sources reviewed: the NavSource hull page, BuShips Ships' Data 1945 Vol. II LSM sections, the NARA catalog (muster rolls and war-diary file units), NHHC/DANFS (no entry), the Naval Vessel Register (pre-1987 disposals excluded), Port of Newport published history, and shipbuilding-history yard tables contain no asbestos survey, insulation-material statement, abatement record, hazmat disclosure, or qualifying asbestos litigation record for LSM-235.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- Study period
- 2026-10-01
- Limitations
- A negative public-source finding is not proof that asbestos was absent. Non-digitized Navy, shipyard, port-authority, and disposal records may contain additional evidence; asbestos documentation therefore remains class_or_era. The authenticated CourtListener sweep found no qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull - 0 opinion results for "LSM-235" and "USS LSM-235"; 3 docket hits were text/OCR collisions on unrelated civil matters, not the vessel.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-235-lsm235-11