The two Pipers lost over the water were infact being flown by military personnel:
http://www.pearlharborsurvivorsonlin...20Hutchens.htm
Quote:
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Three soldiers from F battery*, Henry C. Blackwell Cpl., Clyde C. Brown Cpl. and Warren Rasmussen Sgt. were flying civilian aircraft December 7th. The two Piper Cub airplanes by incoming Jap planes, about 250 of them. All three in the two planes were killed. These three soldiers from the 251st were probably the first United States casualties of World War II.
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*F Battery 251 Coast Artillery (AA) (first casualties of the day - in a rented Piper Cub joyriding over the Ocean)
http://www.pearlharbor.org/history/c...iper&details=1