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With the rapid expansion of U.S. naval aviation during World War II, the need for specialized, dedicated personnel for the dangerous, complex flight-deck operations arose, particularly on aircraft carriers. These vessels were instrumental in defeating the Japanese, and the need for skilled personnel to operate and maintain them became evident.
However, rapid fleet expansion required readily available materials, such as asbestos and products containing it. Insulating the growing number of Navy ships at an affordable price was possible with the mineral, but at a devastating cost to the health of naval personnel. Moreover, in addition to asbestos dust, veterans serving on aircraft carriers - among them aviation boatswain's mates (AB) - risked contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS, also known as "forever chemiclas" are toxic components of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) used for liquid-fuel and crash-fire suppression. Aircraft carriers served as mobile airbases, making efficient flight-deck operations critical for projecting air power, and were particularly prone to fuel fires. Before the AB rating was formally established in 1944 to address the critical need for a specialized crew capable of handling carrier-based aviation tasks, flight deck duties were performed by a mix of ratings, including:
- boatswain's mates (BM)
- aviation machinist's mates (AD)
- ordnancemen (AO)
ABs, often nicknamed "roof rats" or "airdales," worked on the flight and hangar decks of all types of carriers: CV/CVL/CVE. They served under dangerous, high-tempo conditions, responsible for handling aircraft-related tasks, such as:
- launching
- landing
- fueling
Moving and maintaining aircraft on a crowded flight deck required a professional force dedicated solely to the Navy's air wing, ensuring its safety and operational readiness. Consequently, ABs had specific skills, ranging from operating catapults and arresting gear to handling highly flammable fuels and firefighting. The initial AB rating during WWII was often divided into specialized functional areas, which were later formally separated into ABE, ABF, and ABH:
- aircraft handling - directed moving, spotting, and securing aircraft on the flight deck and in the hangar bay. Managed the complex, tight, and fast-paced "deck park".
- launch and recovery equipment - operated and maintained the hydraulic launching catapults and the arresting gear.
- fueling systems - managed the gasoline lines and fueling operations.
- firefighting and rescue - performed crash rescue, firefighting, and damage control duties.
ABs also worked on amphibious assault ships and air stations day and night in a high-pressure team to keep aircraft fueled, armed, and ready to launch. Their WWII legacy ensures their status as the "salt of the deck," essential for carrier operations, and they frequently performed duties in distinctive "yellow shirts" for handling, "blue shirts" for chocks/chains/handlers, or "purple/red shirts" for fuels/firefighting.
Multiple Exposures During Service on Carriers
During World War II, personnel of aircraft carriers were exposed to a combination of toxic substances due to the intensive use of toxic materials for fireproofing, insulation, and combat operations.
The most pervasive contaminant was asbestos, which was present in more than 300 products on nearly every vessel built before the 1980s. Asbestos becomes friable with wear and tear, and maintenance and repairs generate significant amounts of asbestos dust. When inhaled or ingested, the microscopic asbestos fibers embed in the lining of vital organs, primarily the lungs, and cause severe health consequences, such as:
- pharyngeal cancer
- colorectal cancer
- mesothelioma
- laryngeal cancer
- esophageal cancer
- urogenital cancer
- bronchial cancer
- lung cancer
- gastrointestinal cancer
Even if the Navy replaced most of the asbestos with non-toxic materials on most vessels, veterans who served on WWII-era carriers have a high risk of developing life-altering, long-term health issues, often appearing 10-50 years after exposure. Constant, poor ventilation below deck not only endangered crews with inhaling or ingesting asbestos dust but also routinely exposed them to diesel and bunker fuel fumes, which are additional risk factors for veterans. health.
Additionally, Navy AFFF exposure has put service members at risk of long-term health complications, including cancer linked to PFAS chemicals, due to the toxic compounds in firefighting foam used on:
- ships
- airfields
- bases
In recent years, medical studies have indicated that PFAS have bioaccumulative potential and a connection to severe diseases, such as:
- kidney cancer
- testicular cancer
- liver cancer
- bladder cancer
- thyroid cancer
- ulcerative colitis
- thyroid disease
Although the Navy is phasing out AFFF use due to environmental concerns and health risks and transitioning to safer alternatives, those regulations do not yet fully apply to Navy ships because vessel transition is complex, with interim steps and implications for critical systems.
Offering Help to File Claims for Toxic Exposure
Former service members who were exposed to asbestos and/or AFFF during their military service may be eligible for VA disability benefits if they have a diagnosed condition linked to that exposure and can establish a service connection. In addition, those who were exposed to asbestos dust in the line of duty and later developed a related cancer may also be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds.
Just like in the case of asbestos use, AFFF manufacturers had a responsibility to warn the Navy of these dangers but failed to do so, despite knowing the long-term risks of PFAS exposure. Consequently, military personnel who regularly worked with AFFF were unknowingly exposed to harmful chemicals and the risk of developing diseases decades later. Those diagnosed with a related illness may be eligible to file AFFF exposure claims and seek compensation. We can assist by connecting you with experienced attorneys who can help guide you through each step of the process.