USS Belleau Wood CVL 24

The USS Belleau Wood CVL 24, an aircraft carrier named for a WWI battle, proudly served in World War II, after which she worked with the French Navy. While much of her operations involved performing air strikes and raids, she also transported troops and underwent a series of modernizations.

Like other aircraft carriers built in the early and mid-20th Century, the USS Belleau Wood endangered lives both in combat missions and through unabated asbestos exposure. Because asbestos was widely used in such aircraft carriers, and because the USS Belleau Wood operated for about 20 years (from 1940 to 1960), many people – civilians and military personnel – likely experienced years of unsafe asbestos exposure, which, over time, causes serious, incurable diseases.

As a result, it is vital that anyone who spent time aboard the USS Belleau Wood learn more about how asbestos exposure occurs on aircraft carriers, as well as its associated health effects.

The USS Belleau Wood in WWII

The USS Belleau Wood started her career in 1940 named "New Haven CL 76." After a reclassification and being renamed in 1942, the USS Belleau Wood traveled to Pearl Harbor to join the Pacific Fleet. During these first missions, she:

• Aided in the Baker Island invasion
• Participated in raids at Tarawa and Wake Island
• Joined the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

Two years later in 1944, the USS Belleau Wood joined the Task Force 28, with which she raided:

• Guam
• Kwajalein
• Marshall Islands
• Mauro Islands
• Saipan
• Sawar
• Truk
• Ulithi
• Woleai
• Wake Islands
• Yap.

Of her many missions, one of her most remarkable performances came in the Battle of the Philippine Sea when she victoriously shot down a Japanese aircraft carrier. Following these operations and subsequent renovations, the USS Belleau Wood participated in some missions with Task Force 38 and then again joined Task Force 58, with whom she fought some of the final, decisive battles of WWII.

Upon Japan's surrender in 1945, the USS Belleau Wood, like many of her fleet-mates, helped bring soldiers home to the U.S. in what was known as "Operation Magic Carpet."

The USS Belleau Wood after WWII

From 1947 to 1953, the USS Belleau Wood remained docked and inactive. While she would again be active, she would no longer work with the U.S. military. In 1953, the USS Belleau Wood joined the fleets of the French Navy, as stipulated via the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.

After working with French naval forces for seven years, in 1960, the USS Belleau Wood would be sent back to the U.S., decommissioned and sold for scrap.

Although the USS Belleau Wood has a distinguished and well-respected service record, there is a dark side to her legacy – specifically, the number of lives cut short because of their time aboard her.

Unlike the obvious threat of combat, asbestos is generally invisible, and, therefore, exposure occurs without notice. After years of asbestos exposure, people will develop irreversible diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Since most cases of asbestos cancers are fatal, those who have spent time on the USS Belleau Wood should contact us for more information and resources about asbestos exposure aboard aircraft carriers. We will connect you with an asbestos attorney who will help ensure your legal rights are protected.