Evidence
8 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-8).
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[1]research packet 688-packet.md [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lst-543-lst543-pkt-688-packet-md
-
[2]NHHC, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'LST-543' entry [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS LST-543 entry, full text (short-entry form)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- LST-543 was laid down 6 December 1943 at Evansville, Ind., by Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co.; launched 1 February 1944, sponsored by Lt. (jg.) Helen C. Hanson, USNR; commissioned 6 March 1944, Lt. Robert F. Blake in command. Assigned to the European theater and participated in the invasion of Normandy June 1944; then Asiatic-Pacific theater for the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto May-June 1945; post-war occupation duty in the Far East and China service until early May 1946. Decommissioned 31 May 1946; struck from the Navy list 17 July 1947; sold to Bosey, Philippines, 5 December 1947. Earned two battle stars for WWII service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Population
- Ship's company (wartime complement not stated in DANFS)
- Limitations
- Authoritative ship-history record. Contains no asbestos, materials, survey, or crew-complement information; does not establish asbestos presence or absence aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-543-01
-
[3]NavSource Online, Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LST-543 page (10/16/160543.htm) [other_primary]
- Locator
- LST-543 page: chronology, campaign tables, specifications block, photo captions (80-G-285167, 80-G-285176, SC 193919, TimeLife_116703494/116703497), commanding-officer roster
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Per-hull record: LST-542-class tank landing ship; commissioned at U.S. Navy Yard Algiers, LA, Lt. Robert F. Blake II USNR in command. Invasion of Normandy campaign 6-25 June 1944; Okinawa Gunto operation 30 May-30 June 1945; Pacific assignment under LST Flotilla 37 / Group 109 / Division 218. Photographic record documents her as first landing ship to unload at Loebnitz pier (Mulberry A) off Normandy (NARA photos 80-G-285167/80-G-285176) and broached on Omaha Beach in the 19 June 1944 storm, retracted 16 July 1944. Navy Occupation Service (Asia clasp) and China Service (extended) periods 12 September 1945-12 May 1946. Spec block: 1,625 t light / 4,080 t full; 328 ft o.a.; two GM 12-567A 900-hp diesels, single Falk main reduction gears, three diesel-driven 100 kW 230 V DC ship's service generators, two propellers 1,700 shp, twin rudders; complement 13 officers / 104 enlisted, troop accommodations 16 officers / 147 enlisted.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1947
- Population
- 13 officers + 104 enlisted ship's company; 16 officers + 147 enlisted embarked troops (class-standard figures)
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled secondary reference consistent with DANFS; the specification block is class-standard rather than ship-verified, and commissioning location and campaign date ranges are NavSource-only details. Contains no asbestos, materials, or survey information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-543-02
-
[4]NARA Catalog, File Unit 'LST-543, 3/6/44-5/12/46' (NAID 126469536), Record Group 24, Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA Catalog file-unit record; Record Group 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel); microfilm Roll No. 4604; scanned via Ancestry partnership
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA holds the complete digitized muster rolls for LST-543 covering her entire commissioned period (6 March 1944 - 12 May 1946), 297 scanned images from microfilm Roll 4604 - name-by-name crew rosters documenting the population that served aboard this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- All crew members carried on rolls, March 1944 - May 1946
- Limitations
- Muster rolls document personnel only - they contain no asbestos, materials, or medical information. They establish who served aboard, not exposure conditions. Not reviewed page-by-page this session.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-543-03
-
[5]NARA Catalog, File Unit 'USS LST-543 - War History' (NAID 77707524), Record Group 38, World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories; plus file units NAID 77559255 (report of operations, repatriation of Japanese military personnel from Korea, 10/11-14/45) and NAID 77631901 (report of operations, movement of occupational forces from the Philippines to Korea, 9/16-29/45) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA Catalog file-unit records NAID 77707524 (RG 38, micro serial 159239, Roll A2107); NAID 77559255; NAID 77631901
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA holds the ship's war history/diary file and ship-specific operational reports covering the September-October 1945 occupation-era missions (Philippines-to-Korea troop movement; repatriation of Japanese military personnel from Korea) - the primary operational record for this hull. NavSource photo captions independently reference 'LST-543 War Diary' at the National Archives for the June-July 1944 Omaha Beach broaching episode.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1946
- Population
- Ship's company during documented operations
- Limitations
- Operational records only - no asbestos or materials content expected or identified. The war-history file (2 images via Fold3, microfilm Roll A2107) was cataloged but not read page-by-page this session.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-543-04
-
[6]Consolidated era inference - NavSource-documented LST-542-class diesel machinery configuration + era amphibious-ship construction practice [other_primary]
- Locator
- Propulsion/machinery data: NavSource LST-543 spec block; application list: era amphibious-ship construction practice (consistent with LST-1-class profile ev-lst-1-class-03)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference for this diesel-powered LST-542-class hull: no boilers, so no boiler/steam-plant lagging pathway. Era-standard asbestos-relevant applications for the type: diesel exhaust lagging and gaskets, engine-room thermal/acoustic insulation, bulkhead and accommodation insulation, deck coverings/tile, valve packing, and winch/windlass brake linings.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1943-1948
- Population
- Construction trades at Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron, Evansville (1943-44); ship's company (1944-46); scrapping workers at Bosey, Philippines (1947-48)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no ship-specific asbestos record, materials schedule, or survey was located for this hull. Does not establish that asbestos products were installed aboard, their quantity, or any individual exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-543-05
-
[7]Kansas Historical Society, Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company records, Ms. Coll. 167 (finding aid) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ms. Coll. 167 abstract + administrative history sections
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The state archival collection for this hull's builder: documents Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron's wartime Evansville, Indiana shipyard operation (one of five companies that constructed shipyards and built LST landing craft at Evansville; the collection includes photographs of the Evansville shipyard, contract indexes, and project files). Company administrative history confirms the Evansville yard and the postwar 1946 acquisition by Missouri Valley Steel, Inc.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1893-1978 (collection); 1943-1945 (wartime LST production)
- Population
- MVB&I Evansville shipyard workforce, 1943-1945
- Limitations
- Yard-level archival collection - the finding aid describes corporate records (minutes, contract indexes, shipyard photographs, technical drawings) and contains no asbestos-specific description; whether construction-era material schedules survive in the collection is unestablished. The yard (Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron, Evansville) is not in the Atlas shipyards.json dataset.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-543-06
-
[8]Batch-7054 search ledger (this record): CourtListener API v4 opinion and docket searches; NARA Catalog; NVR; NHHC/DANFS; NavSource; Kansas Historical Society; live-web asbestos searches [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lst-543-01 through sl-uss-lst-543-11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming LST-543 was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). CourtListener returned zero hits for 'LST-543' and 'LST 543' in both the opinion and docket indexes (four cells). Live-web asbestos searches returned only law-firm SEO pages (excluded by source policy; one marketing page lists 'boiler room' products for this ship type, which had no boilers). No NVR entry exists (hull disposed of prior to 1987; NVR excludes pre-1987 disposals).
- 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 - it is consistent with a short 1944-1947 Navy career and 1947 disposal predating asbestos-era documentation practice. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present, nor any individual exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lst-543-07