History After Hours: Pearl Harbor – Bob Tyce and His Aircraft with Dr. Robert C. Tyce

Join the American Heritage Museum for a special History After Hours presentation with Dr. Robert C. Tyce, exploring a remarkable and often overlooked chapter of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor through the story of his uncle, pioneering civilian aviator Robert H. “Bob” Tyce, and the historic aircraft that witnessed the events of December 7, 1941.

Museum Hours: 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. | Presentation: 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

As we approach the 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, this deeply personal presentation offers a different perspective on the day that brought the United States into World War II—one told through the experiences of civilian pilots, their aircraft, and a family forever changed by the events of that Sunday morning.

Bob Tyce was a pioneering aviator, flight instructor, and co-owner of K-T Flying Service, operating from John Rodgers Field in Honolulu, Hawaii. During the 1930s, Tyce helped train hundreds of pilots, including military personnel enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. His flying school operated a fleet of small aircraft used for flight instruction, sightseeing, and charter operations, including Piper Cubs and a distinctive 1933 Waco UIC biplane.

On December 7, 1941, as Japanese aircraft descended upon Hawaii, Tyce was at John Rodgers Field when Japanese aircraft strafed the civilian airport. Struck by enemy machine-gun fire, the 38-year-old aviator became the first American civilian killed during the attack. That same morning, two unarmed Piper Cubs belonging to K-T Flying Service were shot down by Japanese fighters, claiming the lives of three young American soldiers who had taken the aircraft on an early morning flight.

During this special presentation, Dr. Tyce will examine the political and economic tensions that led to Japan’s decision to attack Pearl Harbor, the planning and execution of the devastating surprise assault, and the American response that followed. He will explore how the attack achieved tactical surprise but ultimately became a strategic failure, galvanizing the United States and setting the stage for the Pacific War.

At the heart of his presentation is the extraordinary survival of historic aircraft connected to that fateful day. Among them is the 1933 Waco UIC once operated by Bob Tyce’s K-T Flying Service, now preserved in the American Heritage Museum’s own aircraft collection. More than an aviation artifact, this remarkable aircraft has a deeply personal connection to the Tyce family. Years before the attack, Bob flew his future wife, Edna, over Honolulu in this very Waco. Today, the aircraft serves as a tangible connection to the people, places, and events of December 7, 1941.

Drawing upon historical photographs, family archives, aviation records, and personal research, Dr. Tyce will bring these lesser-known stories to life while exploring the enduring legacy of Pearl Harbor and the extraordinary connections between aviation history, military service, and his own family.

This special evening offers a rare opportunity to commemorate the 85th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, remember the civilians whose lives were lost, and discover how a surviving aircraft in the American Heritage Museum’s collection helps preserve a remarkable chapter of American history.

About the Presenter

Dr. Robert C. Tyce is the nephew and namesake of Robert H. Tyce, the pioneering civilian aviator killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His family’s deep connections to aviation helped inspire his own lifelong interests in flight, engineering, and scientific research.

A physicist, ocean engineer, university professor, and multiengine seaplane pilot, Dr. Tyce built a distinguished career in oceanographic research and technology. He served as a professor of Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography and contributed to research programs supporting the U.S. Navy, NATO, and other scientific and defense organizations, including service as NATO’s Chief Oceanographer.

His interest in his uncle’s life and legacy deepened when previously unknown family records and photographs came into his possession following the death of Bob Tyce’s widow, Edna, in 2000. These materials helped Dr. Tyce reconstruct the remarkable story of his uncle’s aviation career and tragic death at Pearl Harbor.

Combining family history, historical research, and his own extensive aviation experience, Dr. Tyce offers a uniquely personal perspective on one of the defining events of the twentieth century.

Important Visitor Information

Guests should plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.

History After Hours takes place on the first Thursday of each month, opening the American Heritage Museum from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for evening admission and special programming. The presentation portion takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Standard museum admission rates apply. American Heritage Museum members are admitted free.

Get Tickets for History After Hours – Thursday, December 3rd