Papua New Guinea National Museum
(PNG War Museum)
"Assisting to preserve and protect PNG's
unique cultural, national & contemporary heritage"
Acting Director - Simon Piratouk (2005 - present)
Past Director - Soroi Marepo Eoe (1988 - 2005)
Science Director - Senea Greh
PNG War
Museum (Modern History Department)
Ahuia Street, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
(Curator) Mark Katakumb, (Senior
Technical Officer) John Lelai
Past Curators - Senea Greh (2000 - 2002), Francesca Drapuluvik (1997-2000) Charlie Wintawa (1993 - 1999) Maclaren
Hiari (1993 -1988), Bruce
Hoy (1978 - 1988)
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The
National Museum's "War Museum" is part of the
Department of Modern History Museum, located in Port
Moresby, also there is a branch at Rabaul, the Kokopo
War Museum. Sometimes called
the "PNG War Museum", this is a branch of the
National museum with the country's "Modern History" collection
of the 20th century, that include a fascinating collection
of WWII aircraft, vehicles, relics and other
displays.
Multiple
Museum Names
The museum was known by several names during its
history: "Papua New Guinea National Museum's War Museum",
then "Aviation,
Maritime and War Branch" and then finally, "Department
of Modern History"
Formation of the
Museum
Arguably, its collection is one of the most impressive
in the world in terms of historical value and rarity.
The museum was formed by the Board of Trustees of the
National Museum in April 1978, with the Museum begriming
in September 1978. Bruce Hoy was its first curator, from
1978-88 who acquired many of the museum's most impressive
pieces. |
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Its collections include items that
were once part of the earlier (pre-PNG independence) Territory War
Memorial Trust, Air Museum of Papua New Guinea both
private organizations and private collections. Items held by Bill Chapman
were held on behalf of either The Territory War Memorial Trust or the
Air Museum of Papua New Guinea, as Bill was chairman of both organizations.
The museum is housed in a small building, and only has limited weekday
hours. Its collection is divided into three areas: outside display
area, indoors display area, and a back room storage area (normally
not open to visitors).
The museum is in charge of all wartime
relics in PNG, and works in conjunction with organizations like CILHI
when MIA sites are discovered, and in the past with restoration organizations
to authorize preservation of aircraft in its collection. Today it also
investigates and attempts to prevent scrapping and illegal export of
relics. Some of its collection is on loan overseas, like portions of
the Yamamoto's G4M1 Betty to the Yamamoto Museum, and C-47 "Flying
Dutchman" Door to USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
Indoor Gallery - collection of relics,
aviation artifacts and displays
Aircraft Collection - on display at the museum
Former Aircraft Collection - Listing of relics exported or removed
by outsiders
Vehicle Collection - Trucks, Jeeps and a tank
Weapons Collection - guns and
weapons on display
Indoor
Gallery
The museum's main gallery are two rooms
with many wartime artifacts, photographs and relics related to
the war in Papua New Guinea.
G4M1
Betty 2656 Tail
Number T1-323
Fuselage door,
Yamamoto's seat and outer wing (permanent loan at Yamamoto
Museum)
C-47A "Flying
Dutchmen" 41-18564
Door diary (replica,
original permanent loan to USAF
Museum) and nose art fragment.
B-24D Liberator 42-41081
Tail fin displayed, recovered from MIA
crash site of 22 Americans.
Aircraft
Collection
The museum has a collection of World War II aircraft
recovered from the local area. Some have disappeared, been sent overseas
for restoration, and others are being restored for eventual return.
Ford
Tri-Motor 5-AT A45-1
Recovered from Lake Myola displayed unrestored at the museum
CAC
CA-1 Wirraway Tail Code A20-13
Donated to the PNG Museum, static display in storage in
backroom
P-38F "Dottie
From Brooklyn" 42-12647
Center
section only, parts removed for restoration by Robert Greinert
/ HARS
Former Aircraft Collection
During 2000-2001, most of museum's aircraft were removed by two groups: Robert Greinert / HARS and '75
Squadron' to
Melbourne Australia. Reportedly, these airframes were containered with
other legal exports and slipped out of the country without detection.
F-5A Lightning Serial Number 42-13084
Salvaged in 1978 by Bruce Hoy to PNG War Museum, disposed in 2001 parts to Robert Geinert
P-39F Airacobra Serial
Number 41-7191
Wreckage salvaged to museum, removed
between late 2000 to early 2001 by '75
Squadron'
P-39 Airacobra Serial
Number ?
Removed from
the PNG Museum between
late 2000 to early 2001 by '75 Squadron'
P-39 Airacobra Serial
Number ?
Removed from
the PNG Museum
between late 2000 to early 2001 by '75 Squadron'
Ki-43 Oscar
Removed
from the PNG Museum between late 2000 to early 2001 by '75 Squadron'
Around 2000-2001, a number of the museum's
aircraft were removed by Australian restorer and collector, Robert Greinert / HARS. Some
are slated to be restored and returned and others have been sold to
other collectors.
Ki-61 Tony Manufacture Number 640
Removed
for restoration to Australia by Robert Greinert / HARS 2004
P-40E-1 Serial
Number 41-36166
Removed
in 2001 by Robert Greinert / HARS,
wing set now in South Australia
P-39D-1BE
Serial Number 41-38351
Removed
in 2001 by Robert Greinert / HARS,
now in Sydney Australia
P-47D "Frankie" Serial Number 42-8130
Given
to Robert Greinert / HARS, sold to PIMA Aviation Museum
Vehicle
Collection
The museum has a collection of trucks, a tank and jeeps on display
outdoors.
Dodge
Weapons Carrier
This weapons carrier is in storage inside the museum's backroom.
Willys
Jeeps
Two US Army jeeps recovered from the Port Moresby area. One was restored
to static display by John Douglas, the other awaits restoration.
Willys Jeep
1942 Willys Jeep, rebuilt by M.H. Farley in Port Moresby and
acquired by Bill Chapman, who donated it to the museum.
GMC Truck
US Army truck,
constructed 1945 according to the identification plate.
It was recovered from 7-Mile area, and donated to the
museum by a resident of Port Moresby
General
Stuart M3A1 Tank Hull
Number 2300
Engine compartment destroyed by magnetic
mine, recovered for the PNG
Museum 1973.
Weapons
Collection
The museum has a collection of many large weapons
from WWII
 50 Caliber Machine Gun
This machine gun was recovered from B-17E
41-2446 (aka 'The Swamp Ghost') in the early 1970's from its radio compartment
and is on display at the museum. This relic was removed by Alfred Hagen in April 2006, when he salvaged the 'Swamp Ghost', later proven illegal. The gun is missing from the museum since then.
Japanese "Long Lance" Torpedo
Salvaged from Lae by the 'Sanders
Salvage' based in in Port Moresby. It was either the type used
by submarines or as an aerial torpedo. It weighs
more than 600lbs.
Japanese Model 92 (70mm) Mountain Gun
On display in the museum yard.
 Japanese Type 97 20mm Automatic / Anti-Tank Gun
Recovered in the Wewak area by Roy Worchester, then later donated to PNG Museum where it is displayed at the indoor gallery. Photo by Yoji Sakaida 2005.
Last Updated
May 28, 2009
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