It's taken 10 years, but restoration of a World War II USAAF crash rescue boat has finally been completed.
It’s taken 10 years, but restoration of a World War II USAAF crash rescue boat has finally been completed. P520 was given a huge welcome when she arrived at her new home in Portland, Oregon.
The 85ft Miami-type boat is the last survivor in original condition of more than 140 fast air/sea rescue craft used by US air forces. She was based initially in California, but went on to serve overseas in the latter part of World War II and in the Korean War.
It took around $1 million to restore P520 for the US Army-Air Force Crash Rescue Boat Association. Owners of other wooden boats will sympathise with association member Bud Tretter’s view that, “The two most expensive words in the dictionary are ‘nostalgia’ and ‘restoration’.”
