The USS St. George (CVE-17) was a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier laid down on July 31, 1941, and launched on July 18, the following year. It was commissioned on June 14, 1943, as HMS Pursuer with the hull number D-73 under the United Kingdom’s flag and served in the Royal Navy for 3 years until it was decommissioned on February 12, 1946. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 646 men on board and had its main missions in Norway and southern France. After the decommissioning, the ship was transferred back to the USA and sold for scrapping in 1946 in Bethlehem to Patapsco Scrap Corporation.
Because of the immediate threat of fire and the great loss of life from fires aboard ships during the late 19th and early and mid20th centuries, asbestos was used extensively in the building and repair of ships. Anyone who served onboard navy vessels should monitor their health carefully, and consult a doctor if they experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, dry cough or wheezing, chest pain, or tightness.
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