Vilu War Museum (Vilu Museum)
Founder/Curator: Fred Kona (deceased)
Curators: Selwyn Betofia (1990's)
Vilu, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
This war memorial park developed
by Malaita Fred Kona, and is located at Vilu, to the west of Honiara, on Guadalcanal. There are also a number of memorial plaques. During the Guadalcanal tensions of 1999-2000, the museum was neglected and overgrown. Today, locals maintain it during periods when Japanese or American tourists visit the area.
Aircraft Collection
Displayed outdoors on the museum property.
F4F-4 Wildcat Bureau Number 12068
Force landed March 14, 1943 recovered circa 1973
F4F Wildcat
Wing and tail wreckage only
F4U Corsair Bureau
Number ? Code V-166B
Recovered circa 1970s
P-38F Lightning Serial Number ?
Ditched off Kukum, recovered 1972
SBD Dauntless Bureau Number ?
Displayed atop 55 gallon drums
G4M1 Betty Manufacture Number 1350 Tail 377
Nose and wing sections recovered to museum
J2F-5 Duck Bureau
Number 00791
Nose and wing section only.
P-39 Airacobra
Engine and propeller only
Henderson Flag Pole
Japanese 150mm Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 11
Angled slightly, shield present, wheels present
Japanese
150mm Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 104
Angled slightly, missing shield, wheels present
Japanese 150mm Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 133
Angled at 45 degrees, shield present, wheels removed
Japanese 150mm Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 136
Angled at 45 degrees, shield present, wheels removed
Ewan Stevenson adds:
"Two of the 150mm guns
were moved down from Tenaro near Cape
Esperance 1976-1978. Certainly before 1980. Some people were not very happy with Fred for moving
them down. Moving these artifacts from
their original location destroys forever some of their inherent
value. Those Type 96 on the ridge above Tenaro were truly magnificent
in the kunai grass. A nice view and intriguing mysterious position never mentioned in
the books. I so wish I could have visited them and photographed
and videoed them in their original location. Who knows what fortifications / archaeological
remains may have been associated with them. Such archaeological
earthworks that remain today in the vicinity may now be inexplicable.
But that was how Fred was the only person that has been successful
in putting anything together on Guadalcanal. He over rode any protests
and just used his over bearing, colourful character and status."
Japanese 75mm Type 88 (1928) 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun
Displayed at the museum
Type
97 Chi-Ha (Turret Only)
Recovered from Guadalcanal (turret only)
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