Aviation Fire Control Technicians and Asbestos Exposure

The approaching Second World War led to a surge in many US industries, particularly in the military sector. The Naval Expansion Act of 1940, along with the Two-Ocean Navy Act of the same year, propelled the construction of a larger and more powerful US Navy fleet, primed to enter the war and counter potential threats from Japan and other nations.

The growing number of battleships, aircraft carriers, and other vessels required large quantities of affordable materials, among them asbestos, the "miracle mineral" of the time. However, nobody anticipated the disastrous and long-lasting toxic effects of its use. Although all branches of the Armed Forces used asbestos-containing materials, the Navy used it the most. Shipbuilding required vast amounts of heat-resistant insulation, and asbestos surpassed this quality with its additional chemical and corrosion resistance. It's one of the reasons its use became mandatory in expanding the Navy fleet, exposing personnel to the toxic fibers.

Asbestos wasn't critical only to the Navy; it was also an essential material in the Air Force, as parts of military aircraft and incendiary bombs contained asbestos. Consequently, avoiding exposure was an impossible mission for all service members of these military branches, including those who served onboard aircraft carriers, among them aviation fire control technicians.

Fulfilling duty on a Navy ship built before the 1980s meant an environment potentially contaminated with asbestos dust, regularly generated by ongoing maintenance and repairs. Inhaling or ingesting airborne asbestos particles holds the risk of developing severe diseases decades later, among them asbestos cancers, such as:

• pharyngeal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• mesothelioma
• laryngeal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• urogenital cancer
• bronchial cancer
• lung cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer

Veterans diagnosed with one of these malignant conditions immediately qualify to file claims and may receive benefits if their medical records state any of the illnesses mentioned above and they have proof of asbestos exposure.

Risking Asbestos Exposure Onboard Aircraft Carriers

During World War II, aviation fire control technicians, also known as AQs in the US Navy, were responsible for maintaining and repairing aircraft electronic systems, including weapons and detection systems. Onboard aircraft carriers, AQs were also involved in the flight deck and hangar deck operations.

Tasked with preparing and maintaining the aircraft's guns, bombs, and torpedoes, AQs were primarily stationed in below-deck compartments associated with the aircraft armament systems - places with high risk of exposure to shipboard asbestos:

• magazines
• handling rooms
• ready rooms

Being an AQ, or part of the "A-Gang," included maintenance and repair of the stored aircraft weapons, ensuring they were ready for use, and specific tasks such as:

• troubleshooting electronic weapon systems
• replacing circuit cards
• working with radar and navigation systems
• heads-up displays
• target acquisition and weapons release systems

The aviation fire control technician rating's roots date back to the aviation fire controlman (AFC) rating in 1945, which encompassed the former ratings of aviation ordnanceman (bombsight) and fire control mechanic. After incorporating ratings such as aviation electronics technician and aviation ordnanceman into the aviation ordnanceman fire control (AOF) rating, the AQ rating was established in 1954. Two service ratings were included under the AQ umbrella:

• aviation fire control technician bomb director (AQB)
• aviation fire control technician fire control (AQF)

However, regardless of the service rating, AQs were responsible for the maintenance and repair of some of the most advanced electronics deployed on US Navy ships at the time. All aspects of aircraft weaponry and detection systems fell under their supervision, including multi-function displays, target acquisition, weapons release, and other related systems. They worked closely with other members of the aviation community, often referred to as "airedales" or "trons". The aviation fire control technician (AQ) rating was disestablished in 1991 when it was merged into the aviation electronics technician (AT) rating, along with the aviation antisubmarine warfare technician rating.

Timely and Appropriate Diagnosis Is the Only Option to Save Veterans' Lives

One of the most horrible aspects of asbestos exposure is that it leads to diseases only after decades. Moderate symptoms may occur sooner, but it can take up to 50 years until the first severe signs appear. It's also the reason behind asbestos-related diseases being diagnosed only in advanced stages, considerably lowering veterans' chances for specialized medical attention and timely care. Consequently, given that a timely diagnosis is of the essence, Navy veterans should attend periodic check-ups and request chest X-rays or CT scans and pulmonary function tests immediately when they experience:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• chest tightness
• wheezing
• dizziness
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss
• persistent dry cough
• pain with inspiration
• respiratory system complications

The same long-developing period and advanced stage of asbestos-related diseases stand as a cause of many misdiagnoses. Moreover, the development of asbestos-related conditions is complex, involving multistep biological mechanisms intertwined with immunological and genetic reactions that are challenging to pinpoint.

Generally, doctors will likely misread the signs, as an accurate assessment requires specialization and experience in handling asbestos cases. Pulmonary specialists are more experienced in treating lung diseases caused by prolonged asbestos exposure and can evaluate veterans' health properly and issue an exact diagnosis.

Because asbestos illnesses usually manifest symptoms that resemble common respiratory conditions, veterans can take extra steps and request a second or a third doctor's opinion outside the VA to ensure they're correctly evaluated and diagnosed. It further helps the diagnostic process if you inform your doctor about your military service and any possible asbestos exposure during that time. It can be the key aspect that helps your diagnosis and could uncover non-cancerous diseases such as:

• pulmonary fibrosis
• asbestosis
• recurrent pneumonia
• emphysema
• rounded atelectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• pleural effusion
• pleural plaques
• pleural thickening
• COPD
• lung nodules and spots
• asthma

Even if these conditions don't qualify veterans for compensation, they should be observed, as they can develop into cancer. Only frequent check-ups and comprehensive tests can discover malignant diseases in their incipient stages, and after a cancer diagnosis, veterans become eligible for claims.

Helping Navy Veterans to Receive Their Rightful Compensation

Before asbestos regulation in the 1980s, its airborne microscopic fibers potentially endangered the health of every person on board Navy ships. Following the Navy's mandate to use asbestos in shipbuilding, thousands of ships contained asbestos products. This is why U.S. Navy veterans who served between World War II and the late 1970s should consult their doctor immediately if they experience any of the mentioned symptoms.

Veterans of the Navy, US Army Transport Service, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine, diagnosed with cancer stemming from their exposure, may be eligible for VA disability compensation and asbestos trust fund pay if they have proof of their asbestos exposure. We can help by connecting you with asbestos attorneys ready to bring their experience to handle your case.