War Stuff

As I've mentioned several times you can't move on Guadalcanal without bumping into, digging up or being sold war stuff. Having read about the battles here it does seemonly logical. The battle for occupation went on for 6 months at the cost of about 50,000 lives. After that the US used the island as an air base. In addition another 2,000,000 (yes two million) troops passed through here between 1943-5 to practice landings for assaults on other islands heading towards Japan. Here are some of the relics we've seen on our travels. Part of what I think was a Japanese radio. If anyone knows what this says I'd love to know.

Every village has a trestle table covered with war relics which, for a small price you can look at and for a slightly larger price you can buy. Here Christian (surgeon) and myself show appropriate solemnity with US helmets and a mortar. I later discovered the most dangerous ordnance to stuff around with are mortars - way to go army reservist Christian!

A Sherman tank, actually brought to the island just after the battle for target practice (would not cardboard cutouts sufficed?)

A couple of Amtraks, or amphibious tractors, or LVT1's (Landing Vehicle Tracked- for the ultra war geeks, you know who you are). These are two of about 99 just parked around a beach out of town. They were used in the initial landings and then afterwards for invasion practices. When the British took over administartion of the islands after the war they thought they could make good use of them, so the Americans sabotaged the engines. Allies?

Even schools have war museums. This is the best one at the Betikama Seventh Day Adventist school just outside Honiara. The next few pictures are from the school's museum. I know for certain members of my family will not sleep until they have identified this large radial aircraft engine.

A P39 Airacobra. The engine was mounted behind the pilot with a large angry drive shaft running between his tiny petrified legs. Apologies for the darkness of the pictures they are darker than when they were taken.

They're called Jerry cans because the Germans invented them (but you knew that).

And here's the answer to the radial engine question. Correct it was a Wright Cyclone.

Not your average war relic. This is Bruno. As a 14 year old boy in 1942 Bruno was told by the Japanese he had volunteered to help build their runway (which is why the Americans wanted the island, and is now the International airport). The Japanese came and got him from his village every day for work and even paid him a small amount of money he had no use for. One day his friend told him he had seen a huge armada of American ships coming. Bruno decided not to go to work that day and consequently is alive today to toothlessly recount his story. With us is F15 fighter pilot John who kindly invited us on the private war sites tour he bought.

Solomon Islanders are not taught anything in school about their war history. Consequently all they know about the wreckage scattered everywhere is that it can be sold for a profit, and even that has only started in the last 20 years. One enterprising local man in the 70's thoguht the relics should be preserved and so got on his tractor and dragged everything he could find into a paddock and started the Vilu open air war museum. Much of it was ruined in the tensions but the following photos are a small smaple of what remains. I can't remember what this plane is, perhaps a Douglas SBD "Dauntless" divebomber.

A Vought Corsair. The story goes this bad boy was on the other side of town so it was dragged behind the tractor down the main street of Honiara.

A P38 Lightning that lived under the sea for 30 years.

John sitting in the P38 just as he realised how many barnacles grow on seat during 30 years of submersion.

Me in a Grumman F4F Wildcat.

Rachael and me in what remains of a Japanese tank. I am driving.
You will have to trust me on this one. This is one end of a 1.6km long bomber runway used by B17 Flying Fortresses. We drove the length of it which was weird. you can drive through the grass and its as smooth as a freeway. Some of us wanted to get to takeoff speed, some of us said that was stupid.

This was the end of another runway. Industrious nuns couldn't see it go to waste after the war and so built a school on it. One of the most extensive paved playgrounds in the world boasting an 800m long netball court. (most of that was true)

Well that ends my little insight into odd war stuff. This was just a small sample of weird stuff to see. If you're not bored yet come and see me when we get home for many more pics.