Radar Technicians and Asbestos Exposure

Today, it's easy to overlook what radar means: it detects airliners, speeding cars, storms, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and underground objects. It is most often mentioned in connection with a weather forecast. However, radar was a relatively new technology in World War II. The Navy created the term "radar" in 1940, as the military accepted the first mass-produced units from RCA.

Many ships and submarines relied on radar, which would detect anything in the air or on the surface of the water. It was the Electronics Training Group officers in World War II who helped pioneer the use of radar 60 years ago, in their secret effort to convert radio waves into a system that could detect German fighter planes and submarines. Their success translated into changing the course of the war and saving thousands of lives.

In the period that followed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy emergently expanded its fleet to 2,000 ships, and each vessel was equipped with radar. Before then, only 79 radar sets had been installed on Navy ships. It was also the beginning of the race to develop, build, and install radio electronics. Predictably, an impending operator/technician personnel crisis followed the radar installation boom. Ships needed their radars ready at all times in perfect working order. The radar technician (RT) rating was established in 1942 to meet this need. After the war, this role evolved into the modern rating of electronics technician (ET).

Serving Under the Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Expanding the Navy fleet at a breakneck speed required affordable and easily accessible materials, and asbestosmet the criteria. It led to shipbuilding relying heavily on the hazardous mineral in insulating Navy ships, and manufacturers incorporating it in more than 300 asbestos-containing productsused on all naval vessels.

This abundance of contaminated products has put everyone on board at risk of inhaling or ingesting airborne asbestos particles, including RTs. Although RTs were focused specifically on radar systems used aboard ships, submarines, and other platforms, they were also responsible for:

• maintenance and repair of various electronic systems
• internally adjusting radar equipment

RTs were tasked with the setup, operation, and performance of preventive maintenance of all radar equipment for:

• navigation
• target detection
• tracking and identifying objects
• direct artillery fires
• analyzing targets

They were responsible not only for operating, but also for maintaining the ship's devices functioning at all times, such as:

• radar
• sonar
• loran

The work of RTs was critical to the U.S. Navy's success, as radar was a revolutionary technology that greatly influenced the war's outcome. It is why many radar operators stated that the atomic bomb may have ended the war, but radar won it. The skills developed by RTs in World War II laid the foundation for many modern electronic technologies that came after the war.

Lasting Health Damage After Service on Navy Ships

The long-term impact of asbestos on Navy personnel's health is reflected in the growing number of diagnoses linked to prolonged exposure to asbestos dust as veterans age. Serving aboard ships built before the 1980s, where asbestos was abundant, has led to many former service members suffering from non-cancerous asbestos diseases, including:

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

Although these benign conditions don't qualify veterans for compensation, it's essential to monitor them, as they can sometimes develop into cancer. Routine chest X-rays, CT scans, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) can help detect if these diseases progress to cancer, which would then make veterans eligible for compensation claims:

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

Former naval personnel diagnosed with any of the cancers listed above are immediately eligible to file claims. They may qualify for expedited compensation if they can show evidence of asbestos exposure and medical documentation confirming the diagnosis.

Moreover, veterans who have experienced significant or long-term exposure to asbestos should schedule regular medical checkups - ideally every one or two years - to monitor their health. Early detection not only extends life expectancy but also increases the chances of receiving adequate treatment. Because asbestos-related illnesses are complex and can be easily misdiagnosed, seeking a second or even third opinion from a specialist outside the VA is strongly recommended. Consulting a pulmonary specialist with expertise in asbestos-related lung diseases offers the best chance for an accurate evaluation and proper diagnosis.

We offer Help for Navy Veterans Affected by Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure during military service is the underlying cause of many pulmonary conditions faced by Navy veterans. It is now well established that the widespread use of asbestos-containing materials in ships built before the 1980s placed Navy personnel at significant risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers.

If you are diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer, you may be immediately eligible for compensation from both asbestos trust funds and the VA when filing a claim or pursuing legal action. We can connect you with experienced legal specialists who will guide you through the documentation process and represent your case, allowing you to focus entirely on your treatment and recovery.