The Pacific Aviation Museum on Pearl Harbour’s Ford Island in Hawaii, US, opened on 7 December.

Ford Island is a National Historic Landmark and was the site of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941.

The first 42,442sq ft (3,940sq m), US$6m (£3m, 4.5m euro) phase of the museum, located within Hangar 37, seeks to tell the tale of military aviation during WWII, while future phases will be built at Hangar 79 and Hangar 54 and tell stories of the Korean, Vietnam and Cold wars.

Prior to the opening, Allan Palmer, executive director and CEO of the museum, said: “The Pacific Aviation Museum is a significant addition to the Pearl Harbour Historic Sites – the US Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin Memorial Submarine Museum and the USS Missouri Memorial – we are honoured to be celebrating the museum’s grand opening on the 65th anniversary of Pearl Harbour Day.”

The museum has a collection of original historical aircraft – including the Japanese Zero fighter, the Navy Wildcat fighter and the B-25 Mitchell bomber – as well as displays, dioramas, documentary screenings, flight simulators and a restaurant.

The total cost of the museum, once the other phases are completed, is expected to be around US$50m (£25.5m, 37.8m euro) and will be funded by government grants and corporate donations. Details: www.pacificaviationmuseum.org