The U.S. Naval Operating Base at Terminal Island in Los Angeles, California was an extremely busy place during the years of World War II. The Navy seized Terminal Island, a sand-filled island next to the port of Los Angeles, from Japanese-American fishermen and cannery workers after Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in December 1941.

Working on Aircraft

The 410-acre airfield on Terminal Island was used by the Navy as an Air Base. Military aircraft that were produced nearby were flight-tested and given a protective coating at the base before they were shipped off to the South Pacific for the war effort. Many pilots also learned to fly at the Naval Operating Base at Terminal Island.

In addition, several hundred women serving the U.S. military effort as WAVES (Women Accepted in Volunteer Emergency Services) and SPARs (Semper Paratus, "Always Ready") also worked at this base as mechanics, radio and air navigators, air traffic controllers, and as pilot trainers.

Asbestos Exposure

Work at the naval bases sometimes involved asbestos-containing materials and components of aircraft such as gaskets, turbines, pumps, and the insulation around wiring. The mechanics and others who worked installing or replacing these parts may have been exposed to toxic levels of asbestos, a carcinogen responsible for thousands of deaths.

When asbestos in any of its many forms is disturbed, deteriorating or manipulated, its fibers may be released into the air, where they may be inadvertently inhaled by people in the area. Asbestos exposure has been linked to such serious illnesses as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

Asbestos Diseases among Veterans

If your work at the Naval Operating Base at Terminal Island caused you to develop an asbestos-related illness, contact us today to learn about your options.