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Asbestos on Aircraft Carriers

The U.S. Navy has relied on aircraft carriers as a central part of its fleet since the advent of Naval aviation in the early 20th century. Naval commands in the modern navy are often referred to as carrier groups, referring to the fact that the group of ships in question is designed to serve the needs and mission of the central ship of that battle-group - the aircraft carrier.

Aircraft carriers are now the capital ships of engagements for the Navy, serving as a command post at the core of an operation. Aircraft carriers have assumed the importance and position in the U.S. Navy once was held by battleships.

As with many ships in the Navy, aircraft carriers contained inordinately high levels of asbestos from World War II into the 1970s. Sailors and marines who served aboard carriers could not help but be exposed routinely to asbestos parts, insulation and dust. In addition, workers at shipyards and maintenance facilities who serviced many aircraft carriers were also exposed to unfortunately high levels of asbestos in construction and maintenance work on the vessels.

If you are a veteran who was exposed to asbestos on an aircraft carrier, read our veterans claims page to learn about available financial assistance for you or your family. Veterans are a high-risk group for getting mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure while in the military or occupationally after serving.

Asbestos Exposure on Aircraft Carriers

A typical crew aboard an aircraft carrier could exceed 2,000. Because carriers had an increased risk of fire, because of to the possibility of ignition of large quantities of aviation fuel aboard, asbestos was present on these ships as a flame retardant in insulation, pipes, work areas, sleeping quarters and mess hall.

Asbestos can be found in an aircraft carrier's boiler room, fire room and engine room. It also can be present in numerous cables, gaskets, valves, adhesives, brakes and clutches and inside insulation. All of these parts were used on all aircraft carriers.

Shipyard workers who built, retro-fitted, rebuilt and maintained aircraft carriers were also exposed to asbestos during the course of their work. These workers then cross contaminated other spots in the shipyard with asbestos materials, and took the dust home on their clothes and belongings.

Aircraft carriers that were commissioned by the U.S. Navy and carried a risk of exposure to asbestos on board to workers, marines, sailors and support personnel include:

• USS America - CVA 66
• USS Antietam - CV 36
• USS Bennington - CV 20 and CVS 20
• USS Bon Homme Richard - CV 31
• USS Boxer - CV 21
• USS Bunker Hill - CV 17
• USS Carl Vinson - CVN 70
• USS Constellation - CVA 64
• USS Coral Sea - CV 41
• USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - CVN 69
• USS Enterprise - CVAN 65
• USS Essex - CV 9
• USS Forrestal - CVA 59
• USS Franklin - CV 13
• USS Franklin Roosevelt - CV 42
• USS Hancock - CV 19
• USS Hornet - CV 12 and CVS 12
• USS Independence - CVA 62
• USS Intrepid - CV 11
• USS John F. Kennedy - CVA 67
• USS Kearsarge - CV 33
• USS Kitty Hawk - CVA 63
• USS Lake Champlain - CV 39
• USS Langley - CV 1
• USS Lexington - CV 16
• USS Leyte - CV 32
• USS Midway - CV 43
• USS Nimitz - CVN 68
• USS Oriskany - CV 34
• USS Philippine Sea - CV 47
• USS Princeton - CV 37
• USS Randolph - CV 15
• USS Ranger - CVA 61
• USS Saipan - CVL 48
• USS Saratoga - CVA 60
• USS Shangri-La - CV 38
• USS Tarawa - CV 40
• USS Ticonderoga - CV 14
• USS Valley Forge - CV 45
• USS Wasp - CV 18
• USS Wright - AVT 6
• USS Yorktown - CV 10

Aircraft carriers were built by workers at:

• The Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts
• New York Ship Building Corporation, Camden, New Jersey
• Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Yard in Newport News, Virginia
• The New York Naval Shipyard in New York
• and other facilities that served the US Navy.

Many of the workers in these facilities were exposed to asbestos in the process. To learn about why asbestos exposure is so dangerous, get a copy of the Mesothelioma Center's free informational packet. The complimentary packet goes over asbestos related diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis and also how they should be treated. Fill out this form to get a packet mailed to you.

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