Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]research packet 656-packet.md (2 sources cited) [museum_official]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lst-284-lst284-pkt-656-packet-md
-
[2]Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), 'LST-284' entry (live page verified 2026-10-02) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'LST-284' entry, full text (single-paragraph entry + dates block)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for LST-284: laid down 9 August 1943 at Ambridge, Pa., by the American Bridge Co.; launched 17 October 1943, sponsored by Mrs. R. R. Goll; commissioned 25 November 1943, Ensign W. H. Pennington in command. Assigned to the European theater for the invasion of Normandy (June 1944) and the invasion of southern France (August-September 1944); then to the Asiatic-Pacific theater for the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (May-June 1945); occupation duty in the Far East until early November 1945. Decommissioned 13 March 1946; struck from the Navy list 19 June 1946; sold 11 December 1947 to Southern Shipwrecking Co., New Orleans, La., for scrapping. Earned three battle stars for World War II service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Limitations
- Authoritative Navy-published ship chronology; terse summary only - does not state construction materials, machinery details, complement, decommissioning location, or any asbestos information. Supports identity and milestones only; no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-01
-
[3]NARA Catalog, 'USS LST-284 - War History' (file unit NAID 77707100; RG: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, series NAID 4697018 'World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories'; Roll A2106; digitized with Fold3) - all 7 pages read [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 77707100, digital objects 0578.jpg-0584.jpg (CinCPac forwarding letter + 6-page ship's history); Fold3 image 302086019 et seq.
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The ship's own six-page 'SHIP'S HISTORY' narrative survives digitized at NARA (Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; series 'World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories,' NAID 4697018; file unit NAID 77707100, microfilm Roll A2106, 7 scanned pages, unrestricted, College Park). Forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy by Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, letter CinCPac File A7-1(P) Serial 52451 dated 5 December 1945 (signed Fitzhugh Lee, by direction), which summarizes: 'The U.S.S. LST 284 took part in the invasion of Normandy and Southern France before coming to the Pacific where she saw action at Kerama Retto. She will return to San Francisco at an unspecified date.' The narrative documents: autumn 1943 construction by American Bridge at Ambridge; pre-commissioning early November 1943; thirteen-day Mississippi transit to Algiers naval docks; outfitting by the Pendleton and Todd-Johnson shipyards 24 November-14 December 1943; LCT 595 deckload; Panama City shakedown; Atlantic crossing via Halifax; Normandy operations (1,414 personnel, 446 vehicles carried across the Channel, three casualty-return trips); Falmouth drydock overhaul 9-18 July 1944 (screws changed after 11,751 miles); collision with USS LST-504 at Bizerte and repairs 28 July-6 August 1944; southern France assault at Green Beach east of St. Raphael 15 August 1944; eight loads/2,297 men/415 vehicles; first LST to land cargo at Leghorn; command succession (McBrier, Decker, Gross, Brooks, Whiteside); Sullivan Drydock Co., Brooklyn, repair/alteration December 1944-January 1945; Panama transit 21 March 1945; Kerama Retto 21 May-1 July 1945 issuing smoke pots and ammunition and generating smoke nightly under air raids; flagship of LST Flotilla 36 from 17 August 1945; repairs by USS Dixie (AD-14) 31 August-4 September 1945; occupation shuttles to Tokyo/Yokohama; 49,490 nautical miles to 28 November 1945.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1945
- Limitations
- Ship-originated primary document - the strongest source in this record for the hull's movements. It is marked '(Not Official Navy Release)' and is a narrative history, not a material survey; the 'Mediterranean's number one LST' distinction is ship self-report via inspection results. Contains no asbestos or insulation-material statement; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-02
-
[4]NavSource Naval History, Amphibious Photo Archive, 'USS LST-284' (navsource.net/archives/10/16/160284.htm, live verified 2026-10-02; 'last updated 28 June 2021') [other_primary]
- Locator
- Specifications block; campaign table; commanding-officer table; photo captions incl. NH 83632
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource Amphibious Photo Archive page for USS LST-284 (10/16/160284): specification block lists two General Motors 12-567A 900 hp diesel engines, single Falk main reduction gear, three diesel-drive 100 kW 230 V DC ship's-service generators, two propellers (1,700 shp), twin rudders; complement 9 officers/120 enlisted with troop accommodations 14 officers/131 enlisted; campaign table gives Invasion of Normandy 6-25 June 1944, Invasion of Southern France 15 August-23 September 1944, Okinawa Gunto operation 24 May-30 June 1945; Pacific assignment under LST Flotilla 36 / LST Group 107 / LST Division 213; seven-officer commanding-officer roster; ribbons include Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia clasp); photo captions include NHHC photo NH 83632 (ship underway in San Francisco Bay, circa January-March 1946) and a National Archives image of the ship beached at Okinawa June 1945.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Limitations
- Privately maintained archive that compiles official records (DANFS text, Navy photos, BuShips-derived specs) - not itself a government publication; its spec block is the source of the propulsion/complement figures and conflicts with BuShips-era class tables on complement (see gaps). Contains no asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-03
-
[5]USS LST-284 ship-generated action report 'Narrative Report of Operations, 5-17 June 1944' (SECRET; declassified by NDC/NARA 2012-12-31), single-page scan hosted by NavSource (contributed by Tommy Trampp) [other_primary]
- Locator
- PDF page 1 (report cover + first narrative page)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The ship's SECRET 'Narrative Report of Operations, 5-17 June 1944' survives as a one-page scan hosted by NavSource: letterhead 'U.S.S. LST 284, c/o Fleet Post Office, New York,' dated 15 July 1944, from the Commanding Officer USS LST 284 and Commander LST Division 58 to Naval Commander Western Task Force via Commander LST Group 29; declassified per NDC NARA stamp 31 December 2012. Page text records: underway 5 June in Follow-Up Convoy Group 125.12; anchored Utah-sector transport area 1646 on 6 June; 7 June casualty reception by boat and sling (from YMS-352, AM-124, and LCT-522), marriage to LCTs 585 and 809 for unloading, close-in anchorage off Red Beach, enemy aircraft strafing and a presumed rocket trail observed at 1850, unloading complete 2209; casualties and survivors of DD-638 received by sling from LCVPs at 0511 on 8 June; underway in convoy for Portland 1527 on 8 June, moored Portland hard S2 at 0841 on 9 June; underway for the far shore 10 June; beached Dog White Beach, Omaha sector, 0520 on 11 June amid enemy air attacks (0350-0534; ship opened fire on two planes); unloaded and retracted 1221; underway again 0556 on 12 June.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944
- Limitations
- Only the first page is hosted - continuation pages not located in the scan. A combat operation narrative; contains no materials, insulation, or asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-04
-
[6]NARA Catalog file units NAIDs 78225062, 140040693, 101736006, 101779118, 77490466, 77517539, 77560020, 77590405 (series NAID 4697018) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA Catalog record-detail pages; representative scan catalog.archives.gov/medialz/microfilm-publications/WWII_WarDiaries/0000/A_0748_Redelivery/A_0748/images/0565.jpg
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA Catalog holds digitized file units for this hull in series NAID 4697018 (World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories), Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, College Park: 'USS LST-284 - War Diary' for 25-30 November 1943 (NAID 78225062 - commissioning week; first page read: ship at Naval Dock Berths 11-12, Algiers LA, underway to Pendleton Ship Yard, approved W. H. Pennington, examined Harold D. Decker), plus monthly diaries for May 1945 (NAID 140040693), June 1945 (NAID 101736006), July 1945 (NAID 101779118), August 1945 (NAID 77490466), September 1945 (NAID 77517539), October 1945 (NAID 77560020), and November 1945 (NAID 77590405). All unrestricted, digitized via the NARA-Fold3 microfilm collaboration and readable free on catalog.archives.gov.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1945
- Limitations
- Existence verified and the November 1943 diary's first page read; the May-November 1945 diaries are catalog-verified but not read page-by-page - overhaul, material, or equipment detail could exist within them. Diaries for December 1943-April 1945 (Atlantic/Mediterranean period) did not surface in this catalog search and may be filed differently. No asbestos content confirmed in the portion read.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-05
-
[7]Corn, Jacqueline Karnell, and Jennifer Starr, 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987); consolidated with this hull's diesel-plant spec block (NavSource) and LST-1-class design record [other_primary]
- Locator
- AJIM 11(3):359-373 (1987); NavSource 160284 specifications block
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference for a diesel-powered LST-1-class hull: with no boilers, the asbestos-relevant applications for the type are diesel exhaust lagging, engine-room thermal/acoustic insulation, machinery gaskets and packing, deck coverings/tile, bulkhead and accommodation insulation, and winch/crane brake linings. Peer-reviewed scholarship documents that asbestos was used extensively as fireproofing and insulation in WWII U.S. shipbuilding, the program under which this hull was mass-produced in 1943.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Population
- Construction trades (American Bridge, Ambridge, 1943); ship's company and embarked troops (era context)
- Limitations
- Era/design inference, not a hull record - no ship-specific material schedule, build specification, or asbestos survey was located for LST-284; the cited literature does not name this vessel. Does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-06
-
[8]U.S. Government Accountability Office, 'Status of Navy Efforts to Protect Workers from Asbestos Exposure,' HRD-80-2 (1979) - product page and highlights retrieved via Firecrawl 2026-10-02; direct fetches to gao.gov returned HTTP 403 [gao]
- Locator
- GAO HRD-80-2 product page, Highlights section
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO HRD-80-2 (published 18 October 1979) reviewed the Navy's efforts to protect workers from asbestos exposure at Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards, covering the use of asbestos in Navy ships, removal costs, and compensation programs; it documents the Navy's 1975 policy (remove/replace only damaged insulation) and its 1979 modification (selective replacement in high-maintenance areas) - program-level confirmation that asbestos insulation was standard in Navy ships of this era.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1975-1979 (report); WWII-1970s era covered
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers (program context)
- Limitations
- Program-level review centered on Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards - not this hull and not this builder. The 26-page PDF body remains fetch-blocked (HTTP 403); only the official product-page description was read. Supports era context only; supports no hull-specific claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-07
-
[9]U.S. EPA Superfund Site Profile, USX CORP AMERICAN BRIDGE DIV (PAD004372975), Ambridge PA [other_primary]
- Locator
- CERCLA Site Information summary block (site name, NFRAP status, EPA ID, region)
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- The builder's yard is a CERCLA-evaluated site: EPA Superfund profile 'USX CORP AMERICAN BRIDGE DIV' (EPA ID PAD004372975), Park Street, Ambridge, PA 15003, EPA Region 3, Beaver County - Non-NPL status 'NFRAP: Site does not qualify for the NPL based on existing information.' This documents that the construction yard's site underwent federal environmental review; the public profile does not list contaminants on the summary page.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- undated on profile; site active WWII era
- Population
- American Bridge Ambridge site (yard context)
- Limitations
- Yard-site record, not a vessel record - it does not name asbestos or any specific contaminant in the summary, does not date the evaluation on this page, and NFRAP means EPA found the site did not qualify for the NPL on existing information. Says nothing about the ship or its materials.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-08
-
[10]American Bridge Company, corporate history page (americanbridge.net/about/history), live verified 2026-10-02; corroborated by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission marker text (explorepahistory.com marker 1-A-254) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Company history, WWII production paragraph; PHMC marker text for Pittsburgh LST yards
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- American Bridge Company corporate history records that 100% of company capacity went to National Defense projects 1941-1945, manufacturing 199 LSTs (as well as aviation repair vessels, Essex-class carrier components, and other war hulls) - the Ambridge, PA fabricating plant was the town's eponymous company-town facility ('Ambridge' = American + Bridge), one of the two Pittsburgh-area yards (with Dravo, Neville Island) that made the region a major LST-building center.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1941-1945
- Limitations
- Company-authored history (and a state historical-marker summary) - production counts are the company's own figures not audited here; used only to contextualize the builder yard named by DANFS. No asbestos or materials content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-09
-
[11]Congressional Record, Volume 154 (2008), Part 12, p. 17356 - 'Honoring the Service of Landing Ship Tank Veterans' (govinfo.gov CRECB-2008-pt12-Pg17356) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Bound Congressional Record text page
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Congressional Record (bound vol. 154, 2008) 'Honoring the Service of Landing Ship Tank Veterans' records the program context: Congress authorized LST construction in three acts (6 February 1942, 26 May 1943, 17 December 1943); 1,051 LSTs were constructed during World War II; the type was a 328-foot ship with bow doors and ramp, under-4-foot forward beaching draft, 9-knot speed, 20 mm and 40 mm guns - and LSTs received the second-most battle stars of any WWII ship type after destroyers.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1942-1945 program; text 2008
- Limitations
- Program-level ceremonial text - documents the LST program's scale and type characteristics, not this hull. No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-10
-
[12]Batch-6822 search ledger (this record): NHHC/DANFS; NavSource 160284 + 160284h1 + report PDF; NARA Catalog (war history + 8 war-diary file units); NVR; CourtListener API v4 (opinion and docket queries, all zero); EPA Cumulis; GAO product page; American Bridge corporate history; Congressional Record; NPS NRHP nomination for sister hull LST-325 [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-284-lst284-01 through sl-uss-lst-284-lst284-15
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed asbestos case naming LST-284 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener exact-phrase opinion searches 'USS LST-284', 'LST-284', and 'LST 284' each returned zero hits, and the RECAP docket-level search '"LST-284"' also returned zero hits (all 2026-10-02); the unquoted 'LST-284' opinion query returned 153 tokenized results, all name collisions with no vessel or asbestos mention.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 2026-10-02
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1943 amphibious hull is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials. The hull was scrapped in 1947-48, ending the evidentiary trail before the asbestos-litigation era. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-284-lst284-11