Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
-
[1]research packet 656-packet.md (2 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lst-286-lst286-pkt-656-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, LST-286 (live NHHC page verified 2026-10-02) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS LST-286 entry (single-paragraph entry)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Documented for this hull: laid down 23 August 1943 at Ambridge, Pa., by the American Bridge Co.; launched 27 October 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Lois Ethel Leseman; commissioned 11 December 1943. Assigned to the European theater: invasion of Normandy (June 1944) and invasion of southern France (August-September 1944). Occupation duty in the Far East in September, November, and December 1945. Decommissioned 26 March 1946; struck from the Navy list 8 May 1946; sold 15 April 1948 to the Bethlehem Steel Co., of Bethlehem, Pa., for scrapping. Two battle stars for WWII service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- American Bridge construction trades (1943); commissioned crew (1943-46)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history only; contains no asbestos or material content. Decommission date (26 Mar 1946) conflicts with NavSource's 30 March 1946 - see gaps. DANFS lists no displacement, machinery, or builder's-number detail.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-01
-
[3]NARA, 'USS LST-286 - Rep of Ops in the Invasion of Normandy, France, 6/5-17/44,' file unit, RG 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (WWII War Diaries microfilm; Micro Serial 88035, Serial 226, File A12-1, dated 7/6/1944), 6 scanned pages (Fold3/NARA collaboration); CO letter LST286/A12-1 Ser. 226 of 6 July 1944 + chronological report + two endorsements, read in full 2026-10-02 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 139740251 digital objects, images 0035-0040 (cover letter + report pp. 1-4 + endorsements)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The ship's own Normandy action report, primary document signed by CO Lt. R.C. Adams, USNR: departed Portland/Weymouth 5 June 1944 in Convoy Group 111 (convoy commander embarked in USS LST-502), towing Rhino Ferry No. 16 and Rhino Tug No. 16; anchored 3.75 miles off Omaha Beach 2020 5 June; LCI-538 delivered 5 casualties alongside; landing craft LCF-3 knocked a 6-inch hole in shell plating at frame 10; red alerts with AA fire (28 rounds 40mm expended; one enemy plane shot down by escorts) under smoke screen. 7 June: off Omaha, 35 casualties aboard, unloaded by Rhino Ferry; loaded LCT-147. 8 June: Easy Red; married Rhino No. 13 to bow, unloading complete 0440; transferred 2 boats, 1 officer, 8 enlisted to NOIC Omaha Beach. Returned to Portland/Weymouth 9 June; moored Hard R-3 10 June and disembarked 95 casualties (72 Army, 10 Navy, 9 German, 4 British; 5 dead) then loaded Army vehicles/personnel and sailed in convoy under commander in USS LST-332. Beached Dog White, Omaha, 12 June 0526 (retraction attempt failed on tide 11 June 2347), unloaded; retracted 13 June and joined convoy 'Corinthian' for Southampton, anchoring Eastern Solent. 14 June: Southampton outer dock, disembarked 85 casualties (83 Army, 1 Navy, 1 German); loaded at Hard S-3. Convoy ECM7W2 (convoy commander in S.S. Elihu Root) to Utah Beach 15 June; beached Sugar Red, Utah, 16 June 0813, unloaded 1115-1320; took casualties aboard. 17 June: convoy to Portland with 211 casualties aboard (199 Army, 1 Navy, 11 German). Endorsements: ComLSTGrp30 (LST Group Thirty, Flotilla Ten; A.R. Sodergren) first endorsement 23 July 1944; Commander Assault Force 'O' (J.L. Hall Jr.) second endorsement 25 Sep 1944 - 'US LST 286 performed satisfactorily her task in the assault' on the Colleville-Vierville sector.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-06-05 to 1944-06-17 (report window)
- Population
- Ship's company (~13 officers / 104 enlisted design complement) plus embarked troops and ~95-211 evacuated casualties per trip; small-boat crews detached to NOIC Omaha
- Limitations
- Primary ship-generated narrative but a combat operations record: it contains no asbestos, insulation, or material-content mention and records no yard or repair period in this window. Verifies movements, beaches, convoy organization, and casualty loads aboard; does not establish exposure conditions. NARA catalog page is the finding aid; page images hosted via Fold3-linked objects on catalog.archives.gov.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-02
-
[4]NARA, 'USS LST-286 - Rep Of Amphibious Ops, 8/9-16/44 Invasion of Southern France,' file unit, RG 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (WWII War Diaries microfilm roll A1123; Micro Serial 84525, Serial 91, File A16), 7 scanned pages (Fold3/NARA collaboration); CO report to CominCh via CTG 84.1/CTF 84/ComWNTF + Enclosures (A) assault-boat report and (B) LCS(R) report, read in full 2026-10-02 [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 78601821 digital objects, images 0096-0102 (cover letter + report pp. 1-4 + Enclosures A-B)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The ship's own southern-France (Operation Dragoon) action report, primary document signed by CO Lt. R.C. Adams: embarked 20 officers and 365 enlisted U.S. Army troops (10th FA Bn 8 off/121 enl; 7th Infantry 6 off/135 enl; 1st Beach Bn 1 off/4 enl; 3rd QM 1 off/15 enl; Free French Force 1 enl) with tank and main decks fully loaded; staged at berth CI-17, Castellamare Bay, Italy, 9-11 August 1944; underway 12 August in convoy SM-1B (Task Unit 81.14.2, convoy position 16) per CTF 85 orders - the Honorable Winston Churchill passed the ship on inspection tour 1920 12 August; transited Bonifacio Strait 14 August. 15 August (D-Day): general quarters 0445, reached transport area 0450, lowered all five LCVPs 0545 and disembarked 11 Army DUKWs carrying 10th FA elements 0815-0823; ordered to USCGC Duane for orders; per LCH-953/PC-625 orders entered Cavalaire Bay and anchored 1746; LCS craft reported back with no casualties 1745; LCT-1040 married to bow and partially loaded with vehicles 2025-2355. 16 August: shifted to right flank of Red Beach per LCC-30, unloaded via beached causeway 0130-0400 after difficulty securing the causeway to the ramp; then reported for return-convoy orders (USS Jewett; USS LST-502 convoy guide), departing 1805. Ship expended no ammunition, received no damage, inflicted none. Enclosure (A): assault-boat report by Lt.(jg) E.M. Weinfurtner, USNR - five LCVPs lowered H-125, rendezvoused with five LCVPs from USS LST-76 under LCC-10 control, reference vessels Queen/Charlie/Able, beached H+15 under light 88mm/mortar and machine-gun fire; retracting boats took shrapnel hits - BM2c Raymond C. Funkhouser (heavy), S1c Raymond Anthony Loffredo (slight), and Lt.(jg) Weinfurtner himself (slight) wounded; another LCVP evacuated two wounded Army men to USS Livermore. Enclosure (B): LCS(R)-74 report by Ens. J.W. Ginsburg, USNR - the ship carried LCS(R)-74 on bow davits; it lowered at H-140 with 36 H.E. rockets, 24 F.S. smoke rockets, 48 Mk III smoke pots, 24 Mk IV smoke floats, fired a full 24-rocket 4.5-inch barrage onto the right flank at H-4, and made smoke under LCC-97 control before returning to the ship 1730.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-08-09 to 1944-08-16 (report window)
- Population
- Ship's company; 385 embarked U.S. Army/Free French troops; boat crews incl. named casualties (Funkhouser, Loffredo, Weinfurtner); LCS(R)-74 crew (Ens. Ginsburg)
- Limitations
- Primary ship-generated narrative but a combat operations record: no asbestos, insulation, or material-content mention and no yard/repair content. Establishes embarked populations (ship's company + 385 troops), deck loading, small-craft carried (LCVPs plus LCS(R)-74 on bow davits), and named individuals aboard - population documentation, not exposure documentation. NARA catalog page is the finding aid; page images hosted via Fold3-linked objects on catalog.archives.gov.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-03
-
[5]Bureau of Ships, Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, Vol. 2 (Jan 1945), LST design table + vessel roster (shipscribe.com PDF; verified live 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- SDB-1945 v2 LST roster (American Bridge block, p. 173 of scan) and LST design table
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Official BuShips 1945 roster row for this hull: 'LST286 (ex-ATL286) - American Bridge Co., Ambridge, Pa. - keel laid 23 Aug 43 - launched 27 Oct 43 - first commission 11 Dec 43' (block LST261-295 American Bridge sequence; no transfer/cancellation annotation). Confirms builder, dates - all three match DANFS exactly - and the hull's original ATL (auxiliary tank landing craft) designation. The LST design table documents the class plant: 2 x GM 12-567A diesels, ~1,700 shp, 2 shafts via Falk reduction gears, 11.6 kt - diesel, no boilers.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1945
- Population
- n/a
- Limitations
- Official government data as of Jan 1945 - predates decommissioning/disposal. No asbestos or material content. PDF is a scan; roster layout is staggered and was parsed in context (LST-286 aligns with the 23 Aug 43 / 27 Oct 43 / 11 Dec 43 date row, matching DANFS exactly).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-04
-
[6]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LST-286 (verified live 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/16/160286.htm - header block, campaign/occupation tables, specifications, CO table, photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource record for this hull: LST-1 class tank landing ship; laid down 23 Aug 1943 American Bridge Co. Ambridge; launched 27 Oct 1943; commissioned USS LST-286 11 Dec 1943, LTjg. Ralph C. Adams USNR; EAME campaigns - Invasion of Normandy 6-25 Jun 1944, Invasion of southern France 15 Aug-25 Sep 1944; Pacific assignment listed as LST Flotilla 39 (CAPT. D.H. Johnston), LST Group 105 (CDR. E.P. Wilson), LST Division 209; Navy Occupation Service Medal windows 28 Sep-22 Nov 1945 and 9-18 Dec 1945; decommissioned 30 Mar 1946; struck 8 May 1946; sold to Bethlehem Steel Co., Bethlehem PA, 15 Apr 1948 for scrapping; two battle stars. Specs: 1,625 t light / 4,080 t full, 328' oa x 50', 11.6 kts, complement 13 officers / 104 enlisted + troops 16 officers / 147 enlisted; propulsion 2 x GM 12-567A 900 hp diesels, Falk main reduction gear, 3 x 100 kW 230V DC diesel-drive generators, 2 shafts 1,700 shp. CO table: Adams 11 Dec 1943-Nov 1945; LT. John Wonsowicz Jr. USNR Nov 1945-30 Mar 1946. Photographs: BuShips construction-progress photo (neg. no. 1048) at Ambridge 2 Sep 1943; launch 27 Oct 1943; unloading North Africa 1944; Bagnoli loading 8-10 Aug 1944 (with LST-76, LST-174; LCS(S)(2) visible on bow davits); underway in English Channel 5 Jun 1944; off/beached at Normandy; en route to southern France Aug 1944 in the 'junior carrier' photo sequence.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- Construction trades (Ambridge 1943); crew 1943-46; embarked troops
- Limitations
- Volunteer secondary compilation, not a primary registry - dates/specs track DANFS/BuShips, but its decommission date (30 Mar 1946) conflicts with DANFS/NavalCoverMuseum/uboat.net (26 Mar 1946), and its 'LST Flotilla 39' attribution conflicts with the official 1 May 1945 Pacific Fleet organization document, which places LST-286's Group 105/Division 209 under LST Flotilla Thirty-Five (see gaps). Contains no asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-05
-
[7]NHHC photographic catalog, SC 192702, 'Southern France Invasion, August 1944. LSTs loading for the invasion, at Bagnoli, Italy, 8 August 1944' (U.S. Army Signal Corps photo; verified live 2026-10-02); and 80-G-362835, 'Invasion of Southern France, Toulon, August 1944' (verified live 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NHHC catalog entries SC 192702 (NH series) and 80-G-362835 (nmusn Operation Dragoon gallery)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Two NHHC-cataloged photographs document this hull's presence in the Dragoon operation: SC 192702 shows LSTs loading at Bagnoli, Italy, 8 August 1944 - 'They include LST-76, LST-286, and LST-174 among others. Note LCS(S)(2) on bow davits of LST-286' (corroborating the action report's LCS(R)-74 carried on bow davits); 80-G-362835 shows 'LSTs in formation approaching coast of Southern France for landing operations on D-Day. USS LST 286 in left center... As seen from USS Catoctin (AGC-5), 15 August 1944.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-08-08 and 1944-08-15
- Population
- Crew and embarked troops at Bagnoli staging and Red Beach approach, Aug 1944
- Limitations
- Photographic presence records only - confirm location/activity, not work performed or materials aboard. The bow-davit craft is captioned 'LCS(S)(2)' in the NHHC catalog while the ship's own report identifies it as LCS(R)-74 (the LCS(S)(2) designation was the rocket-carrying conversion - same craft family). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-06
-
[8]NHHC online reading room, 'United States Pacific Fleet Organization, 1 May 1945' (official organization document; verified live 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- US Pacific Fleet Organization 1 May 1945, LST Flotilla Thirty-Five > LST Group 105 > LST Division 209 listing
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official 1 May 1945 U.S. Pacific Fleet organization lists LST-286 under LST Division 209, LST Group 105, within LST Flotilla Thirty-Five - documenting the hull's Pacific Fleet assignment between her European-theater operations (last documented June-September 1944) and her September-December 1945 Far East occupation duty.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1945-05-01
- Population
- Crew (Pacific assignment, 1945)
- Limitations
- Organization-list placement only - establishes fleet assignment on 1 May 1945, not movements, locations, or work performed. NavSource lists 'LST Flotilla Thirty-Nine' for this hull - a documented conflict (Group 105/Division 209 agree in both sources; the flotilla differs), see gaps. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-07
-
[9]Corn JK, Starr J. 'Historical perspective on asbestos: policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987), PMID 3555021, DOI 10.1002/ajim.4700110311 [other_primary]
- Locator
- PubMed abstract and bibliographic record, PMID 3555021
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Peer-reviewed historical literature describes extensive asbestos use as fireproofing and insulating material in 1940s shipbuilding. That is era context for this 1943-built hull. The ship-specific diesel configuration documented elsewhere means boiler insulation is not an applicable pathway, but no asbestos-containing material is verified aboard LST-286.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- American Bridge construction trades (1943); commissioned crew (1943-46); Bethlehem Steel breaking-yard trades (1948)
- Limitations
- The article does not name LST-286, American Bridge Co., or the LST-1 class. It supports only WWII shipbuilding context and cannot establish a product, quantity, exposure, or causation for this vessel.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-08
-
[10]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO HRD-80-2 product-page Highlights
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO reviewed Navy asbestos protections at Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards and described the Navy's 1975 policy for removing damaged or repair-required asbestos insulation and its 1979 selective-replacement modification. Those policies post-date LST-286's 1948 scrapping sale.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; it does not name LST-286 or establish a material, quantity, exposure, or removal event for this hull. The cited policies post-date disposal and cannot apply to it.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-09
-
[11]ShipbuildingHistory, 'American Bridge Co., Ambridge PA' yard hull table (secondary compiled table; verified live 2026-10-02) [other_primary]
- Locator
- shipbuildinghistory.com American Bridge Ambridge yard table, LST block, 'LST 286' row
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Secondary yard hull table lists 'LST 286' in the American Bridge Ambridge block with completion 11-Dec-43 (the commissioning date, consistent with DANFS) and disposition noted as 'Scrapped 1947' - which conflicts with the documented 15 April 1948 sale to Bethlehem Steel Co. for scrapping (DANFS; NavSource). No official number (O.N.) or breaking detail is given.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- American Bridge construction trades (1943)
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled secondary table, not an official register. Its 'Scrapped 1947' conflicts with the primary-sourced 1948 sale - possibly disposal-completion vs sale timing, unresolvable from this source. Carried as a research lead only; not used to assert a breakup date or place. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-10
-
[12]Batch-6824 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (live); NARA catalog 'LST-286' (two ship-generated action-report file units read in full); NavSource 160286 (live); NHHC photo catalog (SC 192702, 80-G-362835); NHHC US Pacific Fleet Organization 1 May 1945; BuShips SDB-1945 v2; NavalCoverMuseum; uboat.net; HyperWar DANFS mirror; shipbuildinghistory; CourtListener API v4 (authenticated helper); secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-286-lst286-01 through -16 (incl. variant-pending row -06b)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or litigation naming USS LST-286 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener (authenticated, 2026-10-02): '"LST-286"' returned zero opinion hits and zero RECAP docket hits - no docketed case names this hull. Variant-string queries ('"USS LST-286"', '"LST 286"') could not be completed - the fleet pacing budget was spent (helper exit 2); logged pending, though '"LST-286"' is the operative token and subsumes the longer variants. The only 'asbestos aboard' material found on the web sweep is law-firm marketing listicles making generic claims about LSTs - excluded by source policy.
- 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. The ship's own action reports are unusually detailed on wartime operations but record no yard/repair periods or material content. Deck logs (RG 24), American Bridge build records, and the 1948 scrapping contract are undigitized leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-286-lst286-11