AVR 661
Why it's listed
AVR 661 is a 50-ton Air Force crash boat, an air-sea rescue vessel built and launched in 1943. It is 85 feet long, powered by two Packard Marine engines giving a top speed of 35 knots, and carried machine guns, a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun and depth charges. During World War II it served at air bases in the Gulf of Mexico. Later it towed targets for helicopter gunship training, recovered drones, and towed mine-sweeping gear for the Navy. After many sister boats were sold off or sunk as targets, only AVR 661 and AVR 671 remained by 1971. AVR 661 was nearly destroyed as a bomb target, was handed to a museum in Memphis, and sank at its moorings there. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps salvaged it, and it was shipped to Chicago for restoration. The nomination values it as one of the last of its class in original condition and as a memorial to air-sea rescue crews.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that AVR 661 is one of the last of its class in original condition, which gives it special significance despite its being less than 50 years old. It also holds that crash boats represented the humanitarian side of war and saved many fliers and sailors in World War II. By 1971 only AVR 661 and AVR 671 remained of the fleet, and AVR 671 was later scrapped.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001342, listed November 19, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Calumet Harbor, Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | November 19, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001342 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1900-1943 |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing restoration by the Naval Sea Cadet Corps in Chicago for use as a training vessel, with eventual retirement to museum status planned. Condition is marked good and the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.66189, -87.57513 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001342.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4655066
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.