Norman Francis Vandivier (March 10, 1916 – June 4, 1942) was a United States Navy aviator during World War II.
He enlisted in the Navy on July 6, 1939, at Grosse Ile, Michigan, for aviation training and was enrolled as a seaman second class.
On October 20, Vandivier took the oath of office as an aviation cadet in the United States Naval Reserve and soon began pilot training at Pensacola, Florida.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, events came to a head when the Japanese launched a surprise air attack on Pearl Harbor.
Vandivier was on board the Enterprise which was some 200 miles (400 km) from the battle and on her way back to Hawaii after ferrying United States Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) to Wake Island.
She finally put into Pearl Harbor on the afternoon of December 8 to refuel and replenish before again getting underway the next morning to resume patrols which continued through the end of the year.
On January 11, 1942, the carrier departed Pearl Harbor to assist the Yorktown (CV-5) task force in protecting a reinforcement convoy which safely disembarked its marines at Samoa on the 23d.
Two days later, the Enterprise task force was ordered to head for the Marshall Islands and begin America's first offensive action against the Japanese Empire.
At 10:30, he followed his division leader into a steep dive on Taroa islet and delivered another successful attack on enemy installations.
In April, Enterprise provided air cover for Hornet (CV-8) which was carrying 16 Army, twin-engine B-25s under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle.
Vandivier made his closest approach to Japan on April 18 when the bombers rose from Hornet to make their daring one-way raid on Tokyo.
Vandivier and his shipmates began feverish preparations to meet an expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island.
At 09:20 when the planes reached the point where they expected to find the enemy carriers, the airmen gazed down upon empty ocean.
At first, several pilots thought that their leader had brought them back to their own ships; but closer inspection revealed pagoda masts and yellow flight decks.
In spite of a critical fuel shortage, Vandivier had pressed home his attack against the flagship of Japan's main carrier strength.
His bravery is indicative of the spirit and determination which, perhaps above all else, won the crucial Battle of Midway for America and paved the way for ultimate victory.
Vandivier — promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on June 30, 1942, retroactively to April 15, 1942 — was awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously, for "... extraordinary heroism and distinguished service.