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Vilu War Museum (Vilu Museum)
Founder/Curator: Fred Kona (deceased)
Curators: Selwyn Betofia (1990's)
Vilu, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
PhotoThis 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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