What happened to the man who said, “Don’t worry about it…” when informed by radar technicians about a large number of planes heading toward O’ahu?
Lieutenant Kermit Tyler was an Army Air Forces pilot who was temporarily detailed to the Fort Shafter Information Office as Pursuit Officer. December 7 was his second day on the job and he had no idea what his duties were supposed to be. After voicing his concerns over lack of experience (and no understanding of radar or how to interpret it), he was told to report to duty at 4 a.m. Driving to work at 3:00 a.m., Lt. Tyler remembered a friend telling him a Honolulu radio station would broadcast all night when Army Air Force B-17 heavy bombers were flying in from the mainland to Hickam Field. This practice allowed pilots to return home to O’ahu and remain on course (unfortunately, the attacking Japanese planes did the same thing!) He turned on his car radio and found music playing so he knew a flight of American planes was en route. Arriving for duty, Lieutenant Tyler discovered this air plotters and administrative switchboard operators were already on duty. However, because it was Sunday
