United States Army Air Force Crash boats (USAAF) were a class of wooden hulled boats ranging in size from 63 feet to 104 feet. Their mission was to find and recover downed airmen who had to ditch their plane over the sea during World War II and the Korean War. Other missions also evolved for these boats such as supporting the OSS on secret missions and inserting commandos.
The P-520 is the last of the 140 85-foot USAAF boats that were built. She was built in Wilmington, CA, in 1944 and spent her entire military career off the shores of California.
Today, the boat is part of a nonprofit with a goal of educating the public on the vital role these boats played. By traveling around the area, the P-520 can visit ports and showcase locations where these boats were built. Few museum boats are able to operate under their own power, giving this boat a unique opportunity to bring history to the public. We caught up with Patrick Welsh, a volunteer with P-520, to discuss his work with the nonprofit and how PropTalk readers can help.
PropTalk: What do your volunteer duties entail?
Patrick: I captain the boat and do living history representation of USAAF crash boat crewmembers and also OSS (office of strategic services) maritime unit members who were the precursors to the CIA and Navy Seals.
How does it feel cruising the Chesapeake on such a historic vessel?
It is amazing. I wish the boat could talk. It’s such an odd feeling sleeping in the berth, being behind the wheel, and wondering what it must have been like for those guys. As a combat vet, I can relate to the moments of sheer terror they must have faced mixed in with the brotherhood and laughs, and simple moments of downtime and sharing a meal from the galley. These guys were the original hard-core combat search and rescue before para rescue jumpers were a thing. It’s wild, too, the looks and smiles and waves we get, as well as the wide berth, wondering what we are.
What is annual maintenance like?
It’s an 85-foot, 80-plus-year-old war boat. It’s nonstop. Currently we are due for some serious repairs as well as a broken genset.
What type of events does the P-520 participate in?
We participate in events all over to represent the story of these guys; boat shows, parades, etc. It’s a story that needs to be remembered such as those in the book “Crashboat” or in the book “First Seals.” But nothing comes close to the joy when we take veterans out on the Honor Cruises. We take them out for the day, and there is really something special when it’s an USAAF (US Army Air Force as they were in World War II) veteran or a naval veteran as they both have a special connection to the sea like many of us.
What can PropTalk readers do to help?
We need physical labor as much as money—wood workers, mechanics, shipwrights. It’s a massive labor of love and we could use all hands on deck. As with any nonprofit we rely strictly on donations and help. Check out our website on how to donate! We’ve also really been trying to find a town that wants to give P-520 a permanent home as a floating museum. If any marina, dock, or town wanted to give us a dock, we would be forever grateful, and it would be a huge boost in historical tourism and veteran support for that town. So, finding that is almost as important as money and labor.
To learn more, volunteer, or make a donation, visit p520.org.