HELP WANTED

Track down the "Floyd Kilts Bones Story"

The late Floyd Kilts of San Diego, California, was a Coast Guardsman during World War II, and helped dismantle the LORAN station on Nikumaroro. He was quoted in the July 21, San Diego Tribune as believing that Earhart had died on Nikumaroro. As evidence he cited a story he said had been told him by one of the colonists on the island; although the story contains clearly apocryphal elements, it bears uncanny resemblances to what we now know are the real events surrounding the discovery of bones on the island in 1941. Mr. Kilts was dead before we learned of his account, and his wife was unable to help us. If we could find papers left by Mr. Kilts, or descendants or others who may have heard his story first-hand, it might help us flesh out the brief Union account and compare it with other bodies of information.

What Did Dr. MacPherson know?

Dr. "Jock" MacPherson was a physician on the staff of the Central Medical School in Suva, Fiji, specializing in forensics. In September of 1941 he accompanied Gerald Gallagher on his return to Nikumaroro, shortly after Dr. Hoodless of the Medical School analyzed the bones that Gallagher had sent from the island. Gallagher died shortly after landing on Nikumaroro, despite MacPherson's efforts to save him. We don't know what Macpherson did on the island in the days that followed. Was he sent to the island with Gallagher to apply his forensic skills to the bones site? If so, what observations did he make? We need to find any papers that MacPherson may have left, in official archives or with his family.

The New Zealand Survey Party

In late 1938 a party of New Zealand surveyors landed on Nikumaroro and remained there for some two months, inspecting the island as a possible potential flying boat landing site. We have the official report of this survey, and some personal letters from its members, but could use a lot more information. There may be records in New Zealand (though we've checked the archives there pretty thoroughly), and some of the expedition members may still be living. We need to search for these people and records.