USS Bunker Hill CV 17

Built in Quincy, Massachusetts and first commissioned in 1943, the USS Bunker Hill CV 17 was a respected aircraft carrier with a service record that primarily centered on World War II missions. During her over 20 years of service, the USS Bunker Hill engaged in pivotal combat operations, endured devastating enemy attacks and ultimately experienced a number of reclassifications.

Tragically, part of her honored legacy includes the unfortunate distinction of having endured the worst kamikaze attack of World War II. In May 1945, two kamikaze pilots crashed on the decks of the USS Bunker Hill, killing 346 men and injuring 264 others.

This, unfortunately, would not be the only way in which the USS Bunker Hill would destroy hundreds of lives. Like other aircraft carriers built in the mid-1900s, the USS Bunker Hill contained massive amounts of toxic asbestos fibers. Prolonged asbestos exposure will eventually contribute to the development of incurable conditions, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Since most asbestos-related diseases are fatal, it's essential that those who spent time working on or aboard the USS Bunker Hill learn more about the routes and effects of asbestos exposure aboard aircraft carriers.

The USS Bunker Hill in WWII

In her first official missions, the USS Bunker Hill traveled to the Pacific, where she:

• Joined the strikes on Rabaul in November 1943
• Aided in the Gilbert Islands raids
• Participated in strikes in Kavieng, the Marshall Islands and Truk
• Supported raids on the Marianas, the Philippines, Okinawa and Formosa

After returning to the U.S. to undergo necessary repairs and overhauls, the USS Bunker Hill traveled back to the Far East to join in the final missions of World War II, including:

• Bombardments on Iwo Jima
• Strikes on Honshu and Okinawa
• General attacks on the Japanese Navy

These final combat operations eventually resulted in the Japanese surrender, after which the USS Bunker Hill participated in "Operation Magic Carpet" and brought troops home to the U.S. Shortly thereafter in 1946, the USS Bunker Hill was put on the Navy's reserve list, as peacetime reduced the need for aircraft carriers.

Since many aircraft carriers survived WWII in tact, within the following decades, the USS Bunker Hill would be decommissioned and sold for scrap.

Asbestos Exposure aboard the USS Bunker Hill
Like many of her fleet-mates, the USS Bunker Hill was constructed with a number of parts and substances containing asbestos, such as:

• Caulking
• Cement
• Drywall
• Engine parts
• Fire-retardant equipment
• Industrial ovens
• Insulation
• Tars
• Tiles
• Wallboards

As a result, the following people likely experienced unsafe asbestos exposure:

• Repair workers
• Shipbuilders
• Troops who worked aboard or traveled on the USS Bunker Hill CV 17.

If you or someone you love served onboard the USS Bunker Hill, contact us today to speak to an experienced asbestos attorney who will fight to protect your legal rights.