Taiwan's Armed Forces Museum (國軍歷史文物館) might be tiny in comparison to London's Imperial War Museum and Beijing's Military Museum, but as the nation's only all-round military museum it should not be overlooked, especially by those with a passion for history and the military.
Currently taking a break from dealing solely with death, the museum is presently holding a special exhibition celebrating Taiwan's search and rescue unit,"The Seagulls."
Entitled, The History and Achievements of the Airforce Seagull Rescue Group (
PHOTO: GAVIN PHIPPS, TAIPEI TIMES
Although lacking detail apropos the group's non-headline making exploits over the years, the exhibition -- which comprises of photographs, equipment, as well as a short slide show -- is still pretty informative and gives viewers a reasonable overview of the squad.
Formed in 1950 at Chiayi Airforce Base, the squad was originally an air rescue group whose task it was to rescue downed airmen and one that worked in close conjunction with the US Airforce, which was stationed in Taiwan at the time.
Four years later the group became part of the 455th Airforce Wing where it was given the moniker of The Seagulls. According to the unit's history the name was born from the belief that seagulls posses a certain degree of smarts and can lead people away from distress.
PHOTO: GAVIN PHIPPS, TAIPEI TIMES
While the equipment section is a bit flimsy, the photographs in the exhibition are appealing and paint an interesting picture of the unit. The photographic history takes viewers from the early days, when we see members of the unit enjoying themselves alongside their US counterparts at a USO party, to some more recent action such as the rescue last year of fishermen from the stricken Yuanshan Number Two.
We also learn that things have come along way since The Seagulls was a men only club
celebrated by Taiwan's presidents as well as Philippines dictator, Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda. The squad now has six female members, who, bedecked in their uniforms stare down at visitors from a huge photo at the entrance to the exhibition room.
Along with learning lots of useful tidbits about The Seagulls there are plenty of other things to do and see at the museum. Visitors can gawk at infantry weaponry, ogle over air-to-air missiles and gaze upon plastic models of some of the heavy weaponry used by the nation's military both past and present.
The addition of assorted texts, paintings, photos and paraphernalia also enables visitors to learn the about the civil war, the Japanese invasion and occupation of China and the battle of Kinmen as well as the strike capabilities of Taiwan's modern army.
All of which can be done while taking in some truly stirring sounds, as the background salvo of rousing ROC military music never lets up and can be heard everywhere in the museum.
The special exhibition runs until Oct. 31. The museum is located at 243 Gueiyang St, Sec 1, Taipei (台北市貴陽街一段243號): Telephone (02) 2331 5730. The museum is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9am until 4pm. Admission is free.
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