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USS Conway (DDE-507) underway on 6 December 1950 (24746297)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Conway (DD/DDE-507) was a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned in October 1942 that served extensively in the Pacific during World War II, participating in major operations from Guadalcanal through the Philippines campaign and earning 13 battle stars. Following post-war reserve, she was recommissioned in 1950 and served in the Korean War and numerous Cold War deployments including NATO exercises and Mediterranean cruises before conversion to an escort destroyer. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in November 1969 and sunk as a target in June 1970.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Laid down
1941-11-05
Launched
1942-08-16
Commissioned
1942-10-09
Decommissioned
1946-06-25
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1943-1945
Korean War 1951-1951
Cold War Mediterranean/NATO 1953-1960
Vietnam War 1966
Combat Actions
Battle of Rennell Island· 1943-01 air defense and rescue operations
Rendova landings· 1943-06 escort and support
New Georgia operations· 1943-06 bombardment and escort
Vella Lavella operation· 1943-08 transport escort and patrol
Treasury Islands landings· 1943-10 support and escort
Bougainville operations· 1943-10 fire support and convoy escort
Saipan operation· 1944-06 troop landing and fire support
Guam and Tinian bombardment· 1944-06 preassault bombardment
Mindoro landings· 1944-12 landing support
Lingayen landings· 1945-01 fire support
Balikpapan operation· 1945-06 bombardment and minesweeping support
Korean War bombardments· 1951-10 shore bombardment and patrol
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Nouméa — arrival January 1943
Efate — operations base
Guadalcanal — operations base
Purvis Bay — operations base July-August 1943
Sydney, Australia — overhaul 1943
Ulithi — operations base November 1944
Manus — replenishment December 1944
Sasebo — home port June 1951
Norfolk VA — home port 1951-1970
Charleston — reserve berthing 1946
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Fiji Islands and Sydney, Australia· 1943 overhaul
San Francisco· 1944 overhaul
Asbestos rip-out, insulation replacement, and gasket-packing work occurred during these yard periods. Sailors aboard during overhauls had peak exposure to airborne asbestos fiber.
Notable Incidents
December 1960 rescue of survivors from merchant tanker broken in two off Cape Hatteras
Final Disposition
sunk as target 26 June 1970
USS Conway (DD-507) is a documented U.S. Navy destroyer with asbestos-exposure evidence in the public litigation record. The equipment manifest below was assembled from depositions, expert reports, and manufacturer interrogatory responses filed in U.S. asbestos litigation that reference equipment installed aboard this vessel.
Equipment Manifest
Equipment Manifest — USS Conway (DD-507). 5 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Equipment
Manufacturer
Qty
Notes
Main Condenser Circulating Pump
Warren Steam Pump Company Inc.
USS Conway DD-507 listed in Warren Steam Pump Company destroyer roster
Note: this manifest is derived from public asbestos litigation records (depositions, expert reports, manufacturer interrogatories) rather than primary BUSHIPS construction documents. Entries reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed legal records.
AsbestosIndex™Product & Manufacturer Reference
The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.
Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Conway
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms
VA Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.
Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.
How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.
Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.
Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service
Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.
All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.
Conway DD-507 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Conway DD-507 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Conway DD-507 is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.
Which shipboard components on Conway DD-507 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Conway DD-507's era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.
What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on Conway DD-507?
Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.
What equipment manufacturers are documented on Conway DD-507?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Conway DD-507 include: Buffalo Pumps Inc., Warren Steam Pump Company Inc., Warren Steam Pump Company, Inc.. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Conway DD-507 veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?
Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. Conway DD-507 veterans (or surviving family) typically file at VA.gov, by phone at 1-800-827-1000, or with assistance from a Veterans Service Officer through DAV, VFW, or American Legion. Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers are separate from VA benefits — many veterans pursue both paths.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.
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Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may have grounds for a civil claim against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard. O'Brien Law Firm represents veterans and their families in the civil track at no upfront cost — separate from any VA disability benefits you may be eligible for.
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