Vilu Military Museum

Vilu Military Museum, also known as the Vilu War Museum, is a small open air museum in Vilu, on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The museum houses the remains of American and Japanese equipment left over from the Guadalcanal campaign during World War II.

Entrance to the museum in Vilu

Description
The memorial plaques in the museum

The museum was founded by Fred Kona in 1975,[1] who operated the museum until his death in 1994, after which his family took over operations.[1] The museum is open air and contains the remains of Japanese and American aircraft and artillery pieces destroyed during the Guadalcanal campaign of 1942–43, which saw several major battles take place on and around Guadalcanal. Some of the wrecks located in the museum were moved from other locations, and the museum also maintains a number of memorial plaques,[2] including one for the Royal New Zealand Airforce[3] and HMAS Canberra.[4]

The museum was abandoned during a period of civil unrest on Guadalcanal, but later reclaimed. The museum is occasionally visited by American and Japanese tourists.[2]

Collection
SBD Dauntless on display at the museum

Aircraft

Artillery piece

References
  1. "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  2. PacificWrecks.com. "Pacific Wrecks". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  3. "Royal New Zealand Air Force Memorial Vilu - Vilu - TracesOfWar.com". www.tracesofwar.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  4. "Vilu Military Museum". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  5. "Pacific Wrecks – F4F-4 Wildcat Bureau Number 12068". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. "Pacific Wrecks – Vilu War Museum (Vilu Museum)". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. "Pacific Wrecks – F4U-1 Corsair Bureau Number ? Tail Number V-166B". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. "Pacific Wrecks – P-38F Lightning Serial Number ?". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. "Pacific Wrecks – Aircraft". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. "Pacific Wrecks – J2F-5 Duck Bureau Number 00791". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. "Pacific Wrecks – G4M1 Model 11 Betty Manufacture Number 1570 Tail 377". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  12. "Pacific Wrecks – 150mm Howitzer Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 11". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  13. "Pacific Wrecks – 150mm Howitzer Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 104". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  14. "Pacific Wrecks – 150mm Howitzer Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 133". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  15. "Pacific Wrecks – 150mm Howitzer Type 96 (1936) Serial Number 136". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. "Pacific Wrecks – 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 88". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  17. "Pacific Wrecks – Type 97 Chi-Ha Shinhoto (Vilu War Museum)". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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