Aerographer’s Mates — AG ratings — provided meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and oceanographic support for Navy flight operations and fleet commanders. AG billets were primarily at naval air station weather offices, fleet weather central commands at major naval stations, and aboard aircraft carriers and amphibious ships providing weather support for flight operations and amphibious planning. AG ratings at shore facilities worked throughout WWII-era and postwar naval air station building stock during their assignments.

Shore Facility Weather Office and Asbestos

AG ratings working in naval air station weather offices accumulated secondary asbestos exposure:

  • NAS weather office buildings — the weather office spaces and observation facilities at naval air stations were typically located in operations building complexes of the WWII-era or early Cold War construction that used standard period building materials including asbestos ceiling tile, asbestos floor tile, and asbestos-containing pipe insulation in the building mechanical systems. AG ratings spending entire duty tours working in these weather office facilities were in proximity to the deteriorating asbestos-containing construction materials throughout their assignment
  • Fleet weather central shore facilities — the major fleet weather central commands at naval stations occupied administrative and technical building complexes using WWII-era and postwar commercial building construction with asbestos-containing building products throughout; AG ratings assigned to fleet weather centrals worked in this building stock throughout their shore assignments
  • Building renovation and maintenance — shore facility renovation and maintenance activities periodically disturbed asbestos-containing ceiling tile, floor tile, and pipe insulation in weather office and operations building spaces occupied by AG ratings, creating secondary exposure from ongoing building maintenance operations

Carrier and Shipboard AG Billets

AG ratings serving in carrier and shipboard weather billets accumulated shipboard asbestos exposure:

  • Carrier weather office spaces — AG ratings serving in carrier weather offices aboard Essex class, Midway class, and Forrestal class carriers worked in the asbestos-containing interior of these WWII-era and 1950s-1960s-era vessels throughout their sea duty assignments, with the carrier weather office typically located in the island structure and upper works above the flight deck

VA Claims for AG Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure at naval shore facilities and aboard Navy vessels. Aerographer’s Mates who served in shore commands with WWII-era or early Cold War building stock or aboard pre-1980 carriers and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.