Significant reopening down under

Flight Journal, Jun 2001 by Hastings, Paul

After a $20-million redevelopment, one of the southern hemisphere's most remarkable collections of historic aircraft, that of the Australian War Memorial (AWM), has been reopened. The AWM'S Bradbury Aircraft Hall's new display-"Air Power in the Pacific, 1941 to 1953"-traces Australia's involvement in the Pacific campaign, the occupation of Japan and the Korean War.

Consisting of WW I and WW II aircraft, the new displays provide a host of surprises, the first of which is the awe-inspiring Australian-built de Havilland Mosquito PR MK41 A52-319. Mounted some four meters off the ground, this one didn't actually serve during WW II, but it is representative of the 212 Mosquitos that were built in Australia and flown against the Japanese.

The displays also include a CAC Wirraway A20-103, which was based on the NAA 16 trainer. This one downed a Japanese fighter and is the only one of its kind to be credited with a kill. Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero 21 5784 is Australia's only complete Japanese WW II aircraft. Coded "V-173," this one was flown by the fourth-ranking Japanese air ace, Saburo Sakai, who racked up 64 aerial victories.

Beginning in July 1942, the collection's Curtiss P-40E-1-CU Kittyhawk IA A29-133 flew 92 operations with 75 Squadron in the defense of Milne Bay, New Guinea. It was hit three times by fighters and four times by ground fire.

Three major exhibits present Australia's participation in the Korean War. Although it never flew in Korea, NAA P-SiD-20-NT Mustang A68-648 (44-13106) is representative of the 77 Squadron aircraft that saw much action in the first few hectic months of that conflict. Hawker Sea Fury FB11-painted as VX730-might have seen action in Korea while flying from the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney. A Russian-built MiG-15 fuselage completes the display.