AIR CLASS CUTTERS:
The Air Class cutters were 70 Navy SC 497-class patrol boats the Coast Guard requested to be permanently transferred from the Navy to the Coast Guard for air-sea-rescue duties. Initially, 36 were provided on a loan basis. However, due to a shortage of CG personnel immediately following World War II, few 110-foot SCs became operational and those that did saw little service. Those units placed “in commission in reserve” status were assigned one deck petty officer and one engine-room rate as caretakers.
Builder: Dooley’s Basin and Drydock Company, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Launched: 1942
Decommissioned: 1942, by the U.S. Navy; 1945 by the U.S. Coast Guard
Length: 111 feet 6 inches
Navigation draft: 7 feet
Beam: 18 feet 9 inches
Displacement: 135 tons
Propulsion: 2 GM Model 16-184A diesels
Shaft horsepower: 1,200 BHP
Maximum speed: 19.3 knots
Economical speed: 8.0 knots
Screw: Twin screw
Fuel capacity: 4,833 gallons
Water capacity: Unknown
Endurance (@ 8 knots): Unknown
Complement :16 person crew; 1 officer, 15 enlisted
Electronics: Detection Radar: SF-1
Armament : Small Arms
LIST OF "AIR CLASS" CUTTERS TRANSFERRED TO THE COAST GUARD:
AIR CROW
AIR CURLEW
AIR DRAKE
AIR EIDER
AIR EGRET
AIR FALCON
AIR FINCH
AIR GANNET
AIR GOOSE
AIR GRAYLEG
AIR GREBE
AIR HAWK
AIR HERON
AIR IBIS
AIR JAY
AIR AVOCENT
AIR BRANDT
AIR CARDINAL
AIR CONDOR
AIR CORMORANT
AIR KESTREL
AIR KILLDEER
AIR LAPWING
AIR LINNET
AIR LOON
AIR MALLARD
AIR MARTIN
AIR MERLIN
AIR ORIOLE
AIR OWL
AIR PARAKEET
AIR PARROT
AIR PARTRIDGE
AIR PEACOCK
AIR PELICAN
AIR PENGUIN
AIR PETREL
AIR PHEASANT
AIR PHEOBE
AIR PIGEON
AIR PIPER
AIR PLOVER
AIR PUFFIN
AIR QUAIL
AIR RAVEN
AIR REDWING
AIR ROBIN
AIR ROOK
AIR RUFF
AIR SCAUP
AIR SHELDRAKE
AIR SHIRKE
AIR SKIMMER
AIR SKYLARK
AIR SNIPE
AIR SPARROW
AIR STARLING
AIR STORK
AIR SWALLOW
AIR SWAN
AIR SWIFT
AIR TANAGER
AIR TEAL
AIR TOUCAN
AIR TERN
AIR THRUSH
AIR WARBLER
AIR WAXWING
AIR WILLET
AIR WREN