Asbestos In Victor Bombers And Their Like 1960’s?
I have contracted an asbestos related tumour which am informed was dormant and could have been inhaled over 40 years ago.I was the second person on site when an Victor bomber crashed on take off in 1962 I spent over two hours at this site with all debris and chemicals etc but wasn’t aware if this could have been where I may have got Mesothelioma.
I served many years in the Royal Air Force joining at age 15 But my trade was Telegraphist.
It just happened that this crash happened as I was coming off duty in Akrotiri.
I have never worked with this stuff knowlngly but do know that RAF Cosford Billets were heated and lagged with asbestos etc and I spent almost two years in such accomodation also at Bletchley where the heating was sparse to say the least and tug of war between us and the displaced people trying to survive at this time.Any help would be most appreciated
I was a licensed asbestos worker for years here in the States. I can tell you that the military (all) used asbestos in building insulation including spray on insulation in gymnasiums and quansat huts, mixed in different insulations inside building walls and ceilings, around steam pipes and boilers, cold water recirculating pipes for air conditioning systems, brakes on vehicles. Early ceiling tiles contained asbestos as well as thousands of other uses.
Asbestos is not something that you can see with your eyes. It is a mineral that is mined from the earth and is so small that you need a microsope to view it. It is so light that when it gets into the air it can float around on air movement for days at a time until it finds a place to settle where it is not disturbed or until someone breathes it into their lungs. The key to managing asbestos safely is to keep it out of the air.
Most asbestos exposure came from mining it or in the case of mining family members from the minors clothing. (secondary exposure) It was easily introduced into the air anytime buildings were torn down, balls hit the wall inside gyms, ceiling tile was torn out to repair ceilings, pipe insulation was cut open to repair pipes or when the insulation was damaged in any way that could effect a release and anytime anyone stepped on the brakes of their vehicles.
As you can see that although asbestos was an excellent way to control heat, make brakes work well it was also a bad product . I wont waste any more of your time, I could go on for hours about this stuff.
I am sorry that you find yourself with mesothilioma. In the United States our Veterans Administration sees that disease as caused by military service and provides medical help and disability compensation automatically upon diagnosis.
PacificN
8 Feb 10 at 12:12 pm
I doubt very much if you’re going to get the help you need here. You need to be talking to the RBL.
Luvvie
8 Feb 10 at 2:33 pm