In The News

Man haunted by Pearl Harbour mistake dies

Man haunted by Pearl Harbour mistake dies

Kermit Tyler, who ignored initial reports of what turned out to be the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, has died. He was 96.

On the day of the attack, December 7, 1941, Mr. Tyler was manning an aircraft tracking station in Hawaii. Two Army privates telephoned from a nearby radar station to report a large group of planes approaching the island.

Lieutenant Tyler, who was a trained fighter pilot, told the men “Don’t worry about it”, believing the incoming planes were US B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, which he knew were scheduled to arrive. 

However, the planes turned out to be the first wave of Japanese aircraft which launched their deadly attack on the US fleet, plunging the United States into the Second World War.

Lieutenant Tyler was not disciplined for the mistake. It transpired that it was only his second day at the tracking station; he had no working knowledge of radar; had not been told what to do in the event of an emergency; and that the radar operators had not revealed the screen showed more that 50 approaching aircraft (a much larger number than the expected B-17s).

However, Lieutenant Tyler was said to be haunted by his mistake. He went on to serve with distinction and retired in 1961 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

 

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