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Clipper Makes Unscheduled "Mercy" Landing at Palmyra
Brief article about a CAA (forerunner to the FAA) employee who had to be emergency airlifted to Honolulu after a fish bone became lodged in his throat. Lucky for him, the Pan Am Clipper Celestial (a Douglas DC-4) was nearby and able to divert to…
Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Soceity, Vol. 14, No. 1
Several brief excerpts from this report (as highlighted in blue), describe expeditions to Palmyra to study the fly and mosquito populations. These are the only mention of these expeditions we know of, and are also the first scientific confirmation…
Friends Wave and Whistles Salute as Voyagers Sail
This article describes the scene as Captain Weisbarth and his crew set sail for Tapiteauea, where his wife and several of the other passengers were born. This article is especially unique, because of its photograph showing Mrs. Weisbarth, who is…
Notes on the Birds of Palmyra
This account by ornithologist Dr. Frank Richardson, describes the observed bird species and behaviors during a short visit to Palmyra in 1953. Dr. Richardson was part of a 45 member team, led by investor Richard Kimball, to evaluate Palmyra as a…
Pacific Islands, Vol. III, Sailing Directions
For much of maritime history, sailors relied on their first hand experience, and hand drawn charts to plot their course across the oceans. Volumes like this, Sailing Directions for Pacific Islands, helped them not only find or avoid islands, but…
A Tale of Palmyra Isle
This fun, witty limerick tells what we can only assume is a fictitious story of a tree climbing crab on Palmyra, who would call out to a turtle to crack coconuts on its shell, and together they would eat them. This is described in the climax of the…
Early 1940s National Archives Aerials
These images, primarily aerials from 1941 and 1942, show the progression of Naval construction activities on Palmyra. There are a few ground shots of buildings as well, showing freshly finished structures.
The truly unique property of these…
The truly unique property of these…
Pearls of Palmyra
This track, from the golden age of Hawaiian Lounge music, is off the album Polynesian Paradise by Phil Moore and his orchestra. Its also called Pearls of Paradise on some pressings, but as you can see from the album label, it was also (and likely…
History of Naval Air Station Palmyra Island, Territory of Hawaii
This chronology describes, in great detail, the construction and operational events before and during the Navy occupation of Palmyra. Everything from the safe landing of specific aircraft completion dates of specific buildings and features, as…
Postcard from USMC Sergeant Elwin E. Maylone
This postcard continues a conversation between USMC Sgt. Elwin E. Maylone and Sacramento, California resident Mr. Chas. M. Borba.
This would have been sent prior to main construction phase on Palmyra being finished, so Sgt. Maylone likely lived…
This would have been sent prior to main construction phase on Palmyra being finished, so Sgt. Maylone likely lived…
A Fish Story (pt. 4)
This is part 4 of 4, from an article series written by Lorrin Thurston, on his recent trip to Palmyra. This true "fish story", describes young crew member Teddy Dranga's fight with a giant eel, who had swallowed the fish, that had swallowed Teddy's…
A Fish Story (pt. 1)
This is part 1 of 4, from an article series written by Lorrin Thurston, on his recent trip to Palmyra. Here he describes how large game fish are caught aboard a typical sampan fishing vessel. This particular event took place at Kingman Reef, on the…
A Fish Story (pt. 3)
This is part 3 of 4, from an article series written by Lorrin Thurston, on his recent trip to Palmyra. This colorful account describes a wrestling match between a young local, Teddy Dranga, and a large Tuna they hoped to have for dinner. …
Many Perish Seeking Lost Loot of Pirates
A detailed account of the Legend of the Esperanza. Much of the information is the same as what's found in other articles, but there are a few slight variations.
John W. Bustard Collection
1st Lt. John W. Bustard was born and raised in Hawaii, attending from the Punahou School, before leaving to study at Stanford University. He later joined the Marine Corps, graduating from officers training academy in Quantico, Virginia.
During…
During…
Interview with Mary Alice Evatt (excerpt)
Mrs. Mary Alice Evatt was the wife of Dr Herbert Vere Evatt, a prominent Australian politician in the mid 1900s. This excerpt describes time she spent on Palmyra during the early 1940s when it was occupied by the US Navy.
Palmyra May be Lonely but Life There Must Have its Good Points
Great article discussing the aerial survey of Palmyra in 1921, and featuring some great photographs from the trip, including the first one we've discovered of the plane used to take the photos.
Includes some unique details, like the model of plane…
Includes some unique details, like the model of plane…
Maids Plan an Adamless Eden
In 1916, a Chicago group called the Bachelor Girls’ Social Culture Club, offered to purchase Palmyra from then owner Henry Cooper, to use as a colony for women only.
The article details the intentions and details of the group, and is a fascinating…
The article details the intentions and details of the group, and is a fascinating…
Shipwreck Saga Ends at Police Station
This brief account covers the 1982 shipwreck of John Harrison and his two daughters. The story would be like so many other simple shipwrecks on Palmyra over the years, but for two details:
1. The father was wanted by the police and immediately…
1. The father was wanted by the police and immediately…
Collection of Letters from Alta Norton
Alta Norton was a member of the CAA colony who occupied Palmyra from 1948 to 1949. One of her sons, George, was the first (and only) graduate of the short lived school program created during the time of the colony. He also maintained a large…
