Now, the way I heard the story, is that Mr. Kilroy was an inspector at Bath Iron Works In Maine, inspecting Landing craft.  He was accused of not performing all the inspection work he claimed he was, so, he reportedly started marking them off with the now famous "Kilroy was here" logo.  On bigger ships the ordinary soldiers would not be visiting the tight spaces, so how would so many be exposed that memorable logo???? .  The way the story is told up there in Maine, is that it was on the inside rails on the landing craft, and that was often the last thing the soldiers read before they died in the D-Day landing.  Those that survived the landing and went inland carried the saying with them, and the legend grew.

I do not know what the facts are, but it sure makes a great story!!!

Joe Kane

I did a bit of this stuff myself.  In ships and submarines too numerous to remember, in tanks, freefloods, voids, and out of the way places, there are variations of my own signatures.  Probably all chopped up now, except a few in the Tridents and carriers.  I have signed everything from cosmetic trim to valves with "Bozak was here."  I can't take credit for the name; it came from two other people who I knew, one of whom is probably still active duty.