USS Sitkoh Bay

The USS Sitkoh Bay was built in the 1940s, and converted by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of Vancouver, Washington from a Maritime Commission hull to make her an escort aircraft carrier. She carried a crew of about 900 enlisted men and officers.

Support Services

Named after an Alaska landmark, the USS Sitkoh Bay was active in many routine voyages and support activities in both World War II and the Korean War, at places such as:

 The campaigns in the Philippines
 The assault on Iwo Jima
 The invasion of Okinawa

As an escort aircraft carrier, the USS Sitkoh Bay performed duties such as shuttling aircraft, pilots, and air crew to and from the front lines. The Sitkoh Bay received three battle stars for her WWII service and one her Korean War service.

Aircraft Ferry, Cargo Ship, Scrap

The Sitkoh Bay was eventually reclassified as an aircraft ferry and cargo ship and by 1960, she was decommissioned and sold for scrap to Eisenberg & Co., a New York concern.

Asbestos Aboard the USS Sitkoh Bay

Since the Sitkoh Bay was built decades before the U.S. Navy’s implementation of strict asbestos limits, it is possible that both the ship and the construction methods used to build her involved a fair amount of asbestos. The entire U.S. shipbuilding industry used asbestos in hundreds of ship components, such as:

 Pipe and electrical wiring insulation
 Inner-wall insulation
 Around boilers
 In welding applications
 In gaskets, brakes

Shipyard Workers and Sitkoh Bay Vets

If you helped build, repair or maintain the Sitkoh, helped scrap her, or served aboard her during WWII or the Korean Conflict, contact us to speak to a qualified legal professional to see what your legal rights are.