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USS Fletcher (DD-445) underway at sea, circa the 1960s (NH 68912)Source: Wikimedia Commons — public domain (U.S. Navy photograph)
Service History
From the public Wikipedia / DANFS service-history record — source ›
USS Fletcher (DD-445), lead ship of the Fletcher-class destroyers, served with distinction in the Pacific Theater during World War II and the Korean War, earning fifteen battle stars for WWII service and five for Korean operations. After conversion to an escort destroyer (DDE-445) in 1949, she conducted annual deployments with the 7th Fleet through 1962, specializing in antisubmarine warfare and carrier screening. Decommissioned in 1969 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register, Fletcher was sold for scrap in 1972.
Construction & Service Dates
Builder
Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey
Laid down
1941-10-02
Launched
1942-05-03
Commissioned
1942-06-30
Decommissioned
1969-08-01
Notable Tours / Service Eras
WWII Pacific Theater 1942-1945
Korean War 1950-1953
Cold War 7th Fleet Operations 1954-1962
Combat Actions
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal· 1942-11 Surface action, damaged Hiei
Battle of Tassafaronga· 1942-11 Led force, radar contact, rescued Northampton survivors
Marshall Islands Campaign· 1944-01 Bombardment and transport screening
Kwajalein Landings· 1944-01 Transport screening and patrol
Battle of Inchon· 1950-09 Naval gunfire support
Lingayen Gulf Landings· 1945-01 Patrol and antiaircraft defense
Manila Bay Operations· 1945-02 Bombardment and fire support
Home Ports & Forward Bases
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii — home port 1950-1969
Nouméa, New Caledonia — forward base operations 1942-1943
Espiritu Santo — forward base operations 1942-1943
San Diego, California — West Coast overhaul port 1945-1949
Drydock & Overhaul Periods
High Asbestos-Exposure Window
Sydney, Australia· 1943-04 to 1943-05 refit
West Coast (unspecified)· 1945-05 to 1946-08 overhaul
San Diego· 1946 docking
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
14 February 1945 — hit by Japanese batteries at Los Cochinos Point, Manila Bay; 8 killed, 3 wounded; rescued YMS-48 survivors
Water Tender Second Class Elmer C. Bigelow awarded Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry fighting fire aboard Fletcher, 14 February 1945
Final Disposition
Scrapped 22 February 1972
USS Fletcher (DD-445) 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 Fletcher (DD-445). 9 machinery/equipment entries identified through ship-specific BUSHIPS documentation. Manufacturers in bold link to documented asbestos-product history on AsbestosIndex.com.
Technical manual for DD-445 class vessels; referenced in discovery
Fuel Oil Service Pump
Quimby Pump Co
Repair documented on DD-445
Steam Pump
Worthington Grove
Essential spare item listed
Pump
Northern Pump / Quimby Pump / Wemco
Status of incomplete items on departure from building yard
Safety Valve
Manning Maxwell Moore / Babcock Wilcox
Shipped to NY Mare
Main Feed Pump
Worthington
Eroded pump casings
Pressure Reducing Valve
Leslie
Naval commission documented
Main Condensate Pump Turbine
Sturtevant
Naval commission documented
Oil Pump
Pump Co Newark
Referenced in repair work on USS Fletcher (DD-445)
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 Fletcher
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.
Fletcher DD-445 — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Fletcher DD-445 veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?
Yes. Fletcher DD-445 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 Fletcher DD-445 contained asbestos?
Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Fletcher DD-445'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 Fletcher DD-445?
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 Fletcher DD-445?
Documented equipment manufacturers aboard Fletcher DD-445 include: Leslie, Manning Maxwell Moore / Babcock Wilcox, Northern Pump / Quimby Pump / Wemco, Pump Co Newark, Quimby Pump Co, Sturtevant, Warren Pumps. These manufacturers supplied boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, electrical equipment, and insulation systems through BUSHIPS contracts during the asbestos era.
Do Fletcher DD-445 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. Fletcher DD-445 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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