Sponsored by Mrs. Jane Gawne, wife of Captain James Gawne, the USS Bowfin (SS-287) was a Balao-class submarine built in 1942 by Portsmouth Navy Yard. The submarine sunk a remarkable number of enemy vessels, including the passenger-cargo ship Kirishima Maru, the cargo ship Tsukikawa Maru, the passenger-cargo ship Tsushima Maru, as well as the cargo ship Shoyu Maru. Today, it can be seen at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park in Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Furthermore, in 1986, the submarine was declared a National Historic Landmark.
While asbestos-containing materials were used in all branches of the military, it was far more prevalent in Navy shipyards and ships built between World War II and the late-1970s. We urge veterans who served on the USS Bowfin (SS-287) to keep a close eye on their health and undergo annual medical examinations to ensure their health are in good condition.
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