Ford Island - Pacific Aviation Museum

The Tower on Ford Island, awaiting money to assist in it's repair. All you film buffs will know it has been part of such epics as Pearl Harbour and Tora!Tora!

Tour started with a 12 minute film detailing firstly the attack on Pearl Harbour but then explains the subsequent American attack on the Japanese mainland, the crucial battle of Midway and then the slog through the various Pacific rim countries to beat the Japanese.

The have a few planes and plenty of dioramas detailing events. Each plane had a role to play in either the day or the aftermath. There is the actual light civilian plane that was one of a dozen who were enjoying a morning flight around the airfields when the Japanese struck. Several got shot down but a few survived albeit with bullet holes. The son who was having a flying trip with his father witnessed all the brief action and the son has recorded on tape his memories of the day, which the visitor can listen to.

The P 40 Warhawk was one of only a handful of planes that were able to get airborne and fight back with the second wave of Japanese bombers. Apparently due to the concerns over local Japanese sabotage all the fighter planes were parked neatly wing tip to wing tip on the air fields, without fuel and bombs. A sitting target, one which the Japanese took full advantage of. Once air staff realised this was for real the ground crews were able to fuel and arm some planes. The Americans make a great play of pilots turning up in their pyjamas and dinner suits to go fight the enemy. Suggest they read about the early days of WW2 and the Battle of Britain.

There is a B52B Mitchel bomber, this type of aircraft was used in the Dolittle raids on Japan, the first time a bomber took off from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. No one was really sure this could be done, but it was.

They also have a SBD3 Dauntless bomber that they used during the battle of Midway. This was a crucial battle in that if the Americans had lost the whole Pacific would be open for the Japanese armies and navy to attack Hawaii again and then move onto the likes of Australia and New Zealand. It is easy to forget the distances from Hawaii and Midway from the west coast of America, all supplies had to be brought by ship so losing was not really an option. Plus Pearl Harbour really hurt the Americans as they thought they were safe, so the armed forces were under tremendous pressure. In winning it gave secure bases for counter attacks and the ultimate regaining of allied territory.

There is also a F4F3 Wildcat but cannot remember the role it played.

Outside the aircraft hanger/museum is the famous control tower that has seen plenty of action both for real and on film. I believe that there is another hanger which houses more planes plus helicopters but our tour did not include this.

Onto the fourth and final tour of the day