Vandivier Family.

The papers concentrate on two members of the Vandivier family of Franklin, Indiana in Johnson County. James Elba Vandivier was about to enter his junior year at Franklin High School when he drowned in Sugar Creek in August 1916 while camping with friends. Norman Francis Vandivier graduated from Franklin High School and Franklin College. He entered the United States Navy in 1938. He was assigned to Bombing Squadron 6 on the USS Enterprise (CV6) and participated in the Battle of the Marshall Islands and flew air cover for the Doolittle Raiders in 1942. Ensign Vandivier took part in the Battle of Midway, completed his mission but ran out of fuel and crashed his plane in the ocean. Neither Vandivier nor his gunner survived the crash. He was awarded the Navy Cross and a ship was named after him, the USS Vandivier, (DER 540).