Founder - 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 Vila, to the west of
Honiara, on Guadalcanal.
A number of Japanese infantry weapons and American wrecks.
The
biggest
and
most well
preserved
is the
F4F Wildcat, also an F4U and P-38. 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
F4F
Wildcat Bureau
Number 12068
F4U-1
Corsair Bureau
Number V-166B
P-38F
Lightning Serial Number ?
SBD
Dauntless Bureau
Number ?
G4M1
Betty Manufacture
Number 1350 Tail Number 377
Nose and wing sections only
J2F
Duck Bureau
Number ?
Nose and
wing section only.
Japanese
Army Relics
Ewan Stevenson adds:
"Two of the 150mm guns
were moved down from Tenaro near Cape
Esperence 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 intrigueing 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
150mm Type 96 (1936) Serial
Number 11
Angled slightly, shield present, wheels present
