Vandivier, Norman Francis, LTJG

Early on the morning of 4 Jun 1942 aircraft of the USS Enterprise's (CV-6) air group six launched to attack the Japanese carrier striking force that was approaching the Midway atoll. VB-6 attacked the enemy Japanese Force scoring a number of direct and fatal hits on the enemy aircraft carriers. Of the fifteen dive bombers from VB-6 that took off from the Enterprise that morning only five survived the attack although six pilots and five gunners where rescued later. Enemy anti-aircraft fire and fuel exhaustion took the biggest toll on this squadron after the initial attacks. Ltjg John J. Van Buren and his gunner, ARM1 Harry W. Nelson, ran out of fuel and make a successful water landing according to witnesses. They entered their life raft but were never seen again. They were listed as missing in action as of 04 Jun 1942. Their remains were unrecoverable. On 5 Jun 1943 they were presumed dead.

Service number: 083280

Although most sources have Norman Vandivier listed as an Ensign, the Navy Registers show him as being promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade on 4/15/42.

Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Battalion: Bombing Squadron 6 (VB-6)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Ensign Norman Francis Vandivier (NSN: 0-83280), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron SIX (VB-6), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 - 6 June 1942. Defying extreme danger from concentrated anti-aircraft barrage and powerful fighter opposition, Ensign Vandivier, with bold determination and courageous zeal, led his squadron in dive-bombing assaults against Japanese naval units. Flying at a distance from his own forces which rendered return unlikely because of probable fuel exhaustion, he pressed home his attacks with extreme disregard for his own personal safety. His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to duty contributed greatly to the success of our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.