USS Aylwin (DD-355)

The USS Aylwin (DD-355) served in the U.S. Navy for a decade in the early 20th century. She was named for John Cushing Aylwin who worked with the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy and served in the War of 1812. Aylwin was a member of the Farragut class of destroyers.

Construction

Aylwin was laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard in September 1933, launched in July 1934, and commissioned in March 1935 with Commander Clarence Gulbranson in command. Carrying a crew of 160, Aylwin had a range of 6,500 nautical miles at 12 knots and was armed with five 5-inch anti-aircraft guns, four one-half inch machine guns, and eight 21-inch torpedo tubes.

Naval History

Following trials at Philadelphia and Newport, Rhode Island, Aylwin sailed to Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, and Belgium. Aylwin returned to the United States in July, and operated off Guatemala during an experimental flight of flying boat XP3Y-1 in October. In April 1936, Aylwin participated in Fleet Problem XVII and joined fleet exercises off Central America and Peru, and then off Hawaii for Fleet Problem XVIII in April 1937.

Aylwin spent much of 1937 and the beginning of 1938 in southern California, and participated in fleet activities at Pearl Harbor in April. Following this duty, she continued operating along the west coast and in Hawaii. In March 1941, Aylwin collided with Farragut during a tactical exercise and sustained extensive damage. Aylwin was repaired in dry dock at Pearl Harbor.

During the December 7, 1941 attack, Aylwin opened fire on enemy aircraft and headed for sea. She joined Phelps, Lexington, Dewey, and Worden in the Marshall Islands and Wake Island. Aylwin participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 and fought off enemy aircraft, while Yorktown and Lexington were seriously damaged. She also served at the Battle of Midway and in the Aleutians in June and in the New Hebrides Islands in November.

Aylwin screened aircraft carriers during the capture of the Gilbert Islands in December 1943, and escorted a convoy from San Diego to Hawaii in January 1944 on the way to the Marshall Islands. Aylwin also supported Army landings at New Guinea and operated in the Marianas in June. In December, Aylwin was caught in a typhoon in the Philippine Sea, but survived, and went on to serve during the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations. She arrived at San Diego in the beginning of September 1945, and was decommissioned at the New York Navy Yard in October. Aylwin was sold for scrap in September 1948.

Asbestos Risk on the USS Aylwin (DD-355)

All servicemen sailing or working on Aylwin were likely exposed to asbestos fibers to some degree. Some crewmen suffered from a higher degree of asbestos contamination, however: crew members assigned to work in the engineering sections, handle machinery or deal with fire were more likely to inhale asbestos-containing materials. Repair and shipyard crew, whether laying down a new vessel or modifying or repairing damage to an existing craft, were also at risk of being exposed to asbestos in dangerous quantities.

Family members of dock and shipyard crewmen were also at risk of being exposed to asbestos. This is because asbestos fibers would cling to the work clothes that their loved ones wore at the job site. The fibers were then brought back home at the end of the day. Those responsible for laundering the clothes were most at risk of what is known as second hand asbestos exposure.

In the late 1970’s the dangers of asbestos were made known to the public. Mesothelioma, a terminal asbestos cancer, is directly linked to exposure to this substance. Those who served on the USS Aylwin, may have been exposed to asbestos while serving their country and today, could be at risk for developing an asbestos related disease. If you served on this navy destroyer and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma please fill out the form on this page to request more information.

Sources

Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-355.
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd355txt.htm

NavSource Naval History, USS Aylwin (DD-355).
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/355.htm