I suppose its possible that the B17 was near Gardner when it ditched
On a Pacific scale, it was right next door.
I suppose it is possible, that currents, and stuff could have allow the plane to drift to the reef at Gardner.
I think it is absolutely possible.
This is a possible candidate for a wreck that might have produced Nessie. It's a genuinely new piece of information that, as far as I can tell, has never come up in the Forum before. And it is a very interesting tale of survival.
Since the prevailing winds are from the northeast, the drift of the rafts and, presumably, the wreckage, was through the general vicinity of Niku.
On the other hand, I think the account of the wreck suggests that the landing gear was up. It does not seem hugely probable that a landing gear would have worked its way out of the wheel wells, through the closed doors, to the surface, and thence to Niku. But strange things do happen, so it is not entirely inconceivable.
The map shows Kanton to Funafuti because we had earlier discussed a flight that was lost on that route.