National Museum & Art Gallery (NMAG)
(Papua New Guinea National Museum / PNG War Museum)
Motto: "Assisting to preserve and protect PNG's unique cultural, national & contemporary heritage"

Independence Drive, Waigani PNG
P.O. Box 5560, Boroko, NCD PNG
Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 3:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Admission: Free

Director: Alois Kuaso (2025)
Past Directors: Mark Mondia (Acting, 2024) Alois Kuaso (2022-2024), Dr. Andrew Moutu (2013–2016, 2018–2022), Simon Piratouk (2005–2013), Soroi Marepo Eoe (1988–2005)

Modern History Director: Senea Greh (Present–2016))
Past Modern History Directors: Mark Katakumb (2003—2010?), Senea Greh (2000–2002), Francesca Drapuluvik (1997–2000), Charlie Wintawa (1993–1999), Maclaren Hiari (1988-1993), Agion Aiako (1988–19??) and Bruce Hoy (1978–1988)
Senior Technical Officer: John Lelai (1996–2010).

The National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) building in Waigani was built in 1975 and first opened to the public on June 27, 1977 by Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael T. Somare. Formed by the Board of Trustees in April 1978 and began operating in September 1978.

The collection include items that were formerly part of the Territory War Memorial Trust, Air Museum of Papua New Guinea and private collections of expatriates living in Papua New Guinea. The museum also manages the J. K. McCarthy Museum in Goroka and Kokoda Track Museums at Alola, Kokoda, Efogi and Buna. NMAG is also supported by the Friends of the Museum Association.

The Department Modern History War Museum is part of National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) with a branch at Ahuia Street, Gordon in Port Moresby. This museum is known by several different names: "PNG War Museum", "Papua New Guinea National Museum's War Museum", "Aviation, Maritime and War Branch" and "Department of Modern History". Bruce Hoy was its first curator, from 1978-1988 who acquired most of the museum's collection and created most of their displays. This location closed in 2015 with all items moved to the main NMAG location or placed into storage in Port Moresby.

The collection is divided into three areas: outside display area, indoors display area, and a back room storage area (normally not open to visitors), NMAG administers the War Surplus Materials Act including all wartime relics in PNG, and works with US Army CILHI / JPAC / DPAA and Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and Australian Defense Force regarding Missing In Action (MIA) sites and the recovery of human remains. In the past, the museum has also collaborated with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and private restoration facilities for the salvage and restoration of aircraft in the collection. The museum is also tasked with investigates scrapping and illegal export of war relics.

Aircraft Collection
The museum has a collection of World War II aircraft recovered from Papua New Guinea (PNG). Some aircraft have been removed, sent overseas for restoration then to be returned.

Ford 5-AT-C Trimotor A45-1
Recovered from Lake Myola displayed outdoors at Gordons during 2015 displayed outside NMAG.

P-400 Airacobra AP347
Recovered from Bulldog Airfield, displayed at South Pacific Aero Club. On March 6, 2016 placed on display at the National Museum.

CA-1 Wirraway A20-13
Donated to the PNG Museum, static display in storage in back room.

P-38F Lightning 42-12647
Center section only, wings, tail booms and parts removed for restoration by Robert Greinert / HARS

Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor A45-2
Undercarriage in storage

G4M1 Betty Wing
Recovered 1980 portion of outer wing in storage in the outdoor yard.

Cessna 140
Recovered from a preschool in Korobosea, formerly owned by the Catholic Mission, the first Cessna 140 to operate in PNG.

Vehicle Collection
The museum had a collection of trucks, a tank and jeeps on display outdoors at the PNG War Museum (Modern History Branch). During 2015, the vehicle collection was moved to the National Museum or placed into storage.

Willys Jeep
The PNG Museum has three Willys Jeeps in the collection. The first is a Willys Jeep built in 1942, rebuilt by M. H. Farley in Port Moresby, acquired by Bill Chapman then donated it to the museum. The other two are Willys Jeeps recovered from the Port Moresby area. One was restored to static condition by John Douglas.

GMC CCKW Truck
Built 1945 used by the US Army at Port Moresby and donated to the museum.

Stuart M3A1 Tank Hull Number 2300
Destroyed by mine near Buna on December 18, 1942. Recovered for the PNG Museum 1973.

Dodge Weapons Carrier
This weapons carrier is in storage inside the museum's back room.

Weapons Collection
The museum has a collection of many large weapons from WWII.

Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun
Recovered from B-17E 41-2446 (aka 'The Swamp Ghost') radio hatch, in April 2006 removed from the collection by Alfred Hagen.

Japanese "Long Lance" Torpedo
Recovered from Lae by the 'Sanders Salvage'  based in in Port Moresby. Used by submarines or as an aerial torpedo. It is weighs more than 600lbs.

37mm Anti-Tank Gun Type 94
On display in the museum yard, formerly Roy Worcester Historical Centre.

70mm Battalion Gun Type 92
On display in the museum yard, formerly Roy Worcester Historical Centre.

20mm Anti-Tank Gun Type 97
Displayed in the indoor gallery.

Former Aircraft Collection
During the early 2000s, many of aircraft from the PNG museum collection were removed by two Australian groups: Bruno Carnovale and Ian Whitney / "75 Squadron" and Robert Greinert / HARS. These aircraft were loaded into a container and shipped to Australia. Several aircraft were exported under the understanding they would be "restored and returned" to the PNG Museum, but have never been returned. Others were sold or traded to other collectors.

Ki-61 Tony Manufacture Number 640
Removed in 2004 by Robert Greinert / HARS to Precision Aerospace for restoration.

Ki-61 Tony Manufacture Number 299
Removed in 2002 by Robert Greinert / HARS to Precision Aerospace for restoration.

P-40E Warhawk Serial Number 41-36166
Removed in 2001 by Robert Greinert / HARS wing set in South Australia.

P-39D Warhawk Serial Number 41-38351
Pilot Culton crashed April 12, 1943 removed in 2001 by Robert Greinert / HARS to Sydney.

P-47D "Frankie" Serial Number 42-8130
Given to Robert Greinert / HARS sold to PIMA Aviation Museum.

F-5A Lightning 42-13084
Salvaged in 1978 by Bruce Hoy to PNG War Museum, disposed in 2001 parts to Robert Greinert.

P-39F Airacobra 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'.

Indoor Gallery (Gordons, closed 2015)
The PNG War Museum had an indoor gallery with two rooms that housed many artifacts, photographs and relics related to the war in Papua New Guinea created by modern history curator Bruce Hoy during 1978-1988. This gallery was closed in 2015 when the PNG War Museum / Modern History Department was closed and items placed into storage and moved to the National Museum.

Door from G4M1 Betty 2656 Tail Number T1-323
Fuselage door displayed at the museum. Seat and outer wing on permanent loan to Yamamoto Memorial Hall.

C-47A "Flying Dutchmen" 41-18564 Door Diary (Replica)
Door diary (replica) and nose art fragment. The original is on permanent loan to USAF Museum.

Tail from B-24D "Weezie" 42-41081
Recovered from the crash site in 1982 and displayed at the museum.

References
Thanks to Simon Piratouk, Soroi Marepo Eoe, Mark Katakumb, John Lelai, Senea Greh, Charlie Wintawa, Bruce Hoy and William Chapman for additional information