Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier Learns to Fly

1 World War II • Lesson Plans • Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier Learns to Fly • Indiana Historical Society

by Michael Hutchison

Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier

Learns to Fly

WORLD WAR II LESSON PLANS

Indiana Historical Society

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Overview/Description

In this lesson, students analyze two letters written

by Norman Vandivier while he was a naval air

cadet in Michigan. Vandivier was from Franklin,

Indiana. He was a 1934 graduate of Franklin High

School. After graduating from Franklin College

in 1938, Vandivier joined the U.S. Navy on July 6,

1939. In these letters, Vandivier describes his early

training and ying experiences to his parents.

Grade Level

High School

Learning/Instructional Objectives

Students will be able to:

• appreciate training that Americans underwent

in preparation for service and possible war

• understand the importance that World War

II–era service men and women placed on cor-

respondence with family and describing the

day-to-day conditions and events they wit-

nessed during their military service

Academic Standards for the Social Studies

• Indiana Standards: USH 5.1, USH 5.3,

USH 5.6, WH 8.5 and WH 9.2

(as of Oct. 1, 2008)

• National Standards (National Council for

Social Studies): IV Individual Development

and Identity; VIII Science, Technology, and

Society; IX Global Connections

Social Studies/Historical Concepts

World War II, military, U.S. Navy Air Corps

Time Required

One class period (approximately 50 to 55 minutes)

Materials Required

• Study guide for each student

• Copies of letter from Navy Air Cadet Nor-

man Vandivier to his parents, dated July 18,

1939. IHS Digital Library, Item ID: M0828_

BOX1_7-18-39

(accessed Aug. 8, 2011).

• Copies of letter from Navy Air Cadet Nor-

man Vandivier to his parents, dated July 23,

1939. IHS Digital Library, Item ID: M0828_

BOX_1_7-23-39 (accessed Aug. 8, 2011).

• Student textbook (if desired)

2 World War II • Lesson Plans • Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier Learns to Fly • Indiana Historical Society

Background/Historical Context

Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in Germany during

the early 1930s signaled the rst steps toward

world war. Hitler, rst as chancellor, and later

as the Fuhrer consistently violated the Versailles

Treaty that ended World War I, as well as violating

the civil liberties of many Germans, in particular,

the rights of Jews.

While many in the United States were alarmed by

Hitler’s tactics and beliefs, Americans generally

supported neutrality, wishing to avoid war.

However, an increasing number of United States

citizens believed that the country would have

some sort of involvement in the war, including

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who sought

ways to get around the Neutrality Acts in order to

provide support for nations wishing to resist

fascism. By the summer of 1940, Roosevelt

had signed into law the rst peacetime draft in

American history. However, many young men and

women in the United States had already enlisted

in order to select a desired branch of the armed

forces, or simply to help maintain American

security. In 1938 Norman Vandivier was

recommended for nomination as a cadet to the

U.S. Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Florida. His

letters frequently described his experiences in the

military and ight training.

Lesson Procedure

Introduce the lesson by asking students to specu-

late as to why some American men might have

elected to enlist for military service rather than

wait for war or wait to be drafted. Why might

aviation have been especially attractive for many?

Distribute copies of the study guide, as well

as copies of the letters Vandivier wrote to his

parents dated July 18 and July 23, 1939. Direct

students to answer questions based on infor-

mation from the letters as well as their own back-

ground. If needed, students should be allowed to

use other resources, such as their textbook,

to completely answer questions.

Allow sufcient time for students to complete the

study guide. After completion, students should be

prepared to share their responses as directed with

other students in the class.

Assessment

The teacher should develop a rubric on their

own to adequately gauge student achievement.

This should include evaluation of historical

accuracy, spelling, grammar, and ability to

interpret information.

Enrichment Activity

Once students have read the letters and have a

basic idea about Vandivier’s early ying experience,

have them research online or through traditional

means for information about how military pilots

today would be trained for their job. The students

should write essays comparing and contrasting

Vandivier’s training to today’s methods for

training pilots.

Study Guide Questions with

Suggested Answers

Note: In some instances, several possible

responses may answer the question. In those

cases, the teacher may wish to accept any

reasonable answer as correct.

1. Look at the letter dated July 18, 1939.

To whom is he writing this letter? From what

location is he writing? Why would he be

stationed here?

Vandivier is writing to his parents from a base

in Grosse Ile, Michigan, which apparently was a

training facility or ight school.

2. At the time of this letter, how many times

had Vandivier been up in a plane? Do you

think he likes ying? Write two phrases or

sentences that support your view.

According to his letter, he is writing on the rst

day he went up in a plane. He makes reference to

ying and his duty assignment as a “vacation.”

He also notes, “Boy, that sure is ne.” He also

3 World War II • Lesson Plans • Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier Learns to Fly • Indiana Historical Society

refers to the stunts he goes through during the

ight, saying “Those stunts sure are fun.”

3. In the letter Vandivier describes various

events in the ight. Where did he y? What

sorts of conditions did he encounter during

the ight?

Vandivier writes that on the ight they went over

Ann Arbor and Adrian, Michigan. He also notes

that at 3,200 feet (altitude), the air was very

rough, but at 4,500 feet, “the air was as smooth

as a oor.”

4. Why do you think Mr. Cady (the ight

instructor) put the plane through a “bunch of

stunts”? What sort of stunts do you think the

instructor might do with the plane?

Students will probably note, as Vandivier does,

that Mr. Cady put the plane through stunts “to

see if I would scare out, but I guess that I didn’t.”

This is most likely true. Other students may feel

that Cady may either have been giving Vandivier

a feel for what sorts of conditions he may have

actually experienced in ying, or possibly to give

Vandivier an idea of the plane’s capabilities.

5. Other than ying, what other duties or

jobs does Vandivier have while stationed at

Gross Ile?

He notes that he had a “class in radio sending

and receiving.” The cadets also had to wipe down

all of the planes after they have been up, using

gasoline to take off the oil and bug spots. They

also had to go on watch every third night from six

o’clock to ten o’clock, staying and answering the

telephone “if it rings” at the hangar.

6. In this letter what two things does

Vandivier specically mention to his mother?

Vandivier mentions that his mother doesn’t have

to worry about his eating, because “they have

some very good cooks here and I’m afraid that

I’m not going to reduce any after all.” He also

notes that he seemed to have everything that he

needed, and didn’t forget anything. Vandivier

adds that the rooms are ne and the weather is

very cool.

7. Next, look at the letter from July 23, 1939.

As in the other letter, Vandivier describes a

“vacation.” What do you think he means by

this? Give two examples of how this might be

a vacation in Vandivier’s eyes.

He tells his parents that he’s on duty at the

seaplane hangar, “where absolutely nothing

ever happens.” All he has to do is answer the

telephone, which isn’t often. He notes that all he

does is read and sleep, and he writes, “there’s a

bed here handy.”

8. In the letter, he also describes his ying

experiences. At this point, how much

instructional time has Vandivier had? How

does he describe his ying experience up to

this point?

At the time of the letter, Vandivier told his

parents that he’s had about three hours of

instruction. He adds, “and I am getting good.”

He wrote, “I believe I could take one [plane] up

and land it by myself, although I haven’t done it

yet.” He also wrote that he’s had all of the

controls, with only a little help from the

instructor. Vandivier wrote his parents that he

didn’t think he’d have any trouble, and “I sure do

like this ying. I can’t hardly wait till they tell me

to take her up by myself.”

9. What does Vandivier ask his parents about

activities at home? What did he think was

happening there? What was he doing at the

aireld that seemed similar to what he might

do at home?

He says that he thought they (the family) were

done with the threshing, “and that there’s nothing

to do.” He also wrote to “tell Lowrey that they

had me changing ledger plates on a mower . . .

that they use on the landing eld.”

4 World War II • Lesson Plans • Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier Learns to Fly • Indiana Historical Society

10. If you were Vandivier’s parents, how do

you think you would feel about the types of

duties their son described? Write a paragraph

explaining your view of how Vandivier’s

parents would feel about their son’s duties.

Student answers will vary. Some students may

note that Vandivier’s parents probably felt relieved

and happy because their son seemed to be

enjoying what he was doing, and was not over-

worked. Other students may feel that Vandivier’s

parents may have not have been happy because

their son was not available to help with chores

at home on the farm because he was in the

military. Still others may note that while the

United States remained neutral, the news about

what was happening in Europe and in Asia was

becoming increasingly worse and that war was

inevitable. While they would be proud of their

son’s success, they might be fearful of his safety

as well.

5 World War II • Lesson Plans • Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier Learns to Fly • Indiana Historical Society

“Cadet Norman Vandivier Learns to Fly” Study Guide

Directions

Read over the two letters written by Norman Vandivier. After you have read each letter, answer the

following questions. You may refer back to the letters to refresh your memory or for more information.

1. Look at the letter dated July 18, 1939. To whom is he writing this letter? From what location

is he writing? Why would he be stationed here?

2. At the time of this letter, how many times had Vandivier been up in a plane? Do you think

he likes ying? Write two phrases or sentences that support your view.

3. In the letter, Vandivier describes various events in the ight. Where did he y? What sorts of

conditions did he encounter during the ight?

4. Why do you think Mr. Cady (the ight instructor) put the plane through a “bunch of stunts”?

What sort of stunts do you think the instructor might do with the plane?

5. Other than ying, what other duties or jobs does Vandivier have while stationed at Gross Ile?

6 World War II • Lesson Plans • Lesson 2––Cadet Norman F. Vandivier Learns to Fly • Indiana Historical Society

6. In this letter, what two things does Vandivier specically mention to his mother?

7. Next, look at the letter from July 23, 1939. As in the other letter, Vandivier describes a “vacation.”

What do you think he means by this? Give two examples of how this might be a vacation in

Vandivier’s eyes.

8. In the letter, he also describes his ying experiences. At this point, how much instructional time

has Vandivier had? How does he describe his ying experience up to this point?

9. What does Vandivier ask his parents about activities at home? What did he think was happening

there? What was he doing at the aireld that seemed similar to what he might do at home?

10. If you were Vandivier’s parents, how do you think you would feel about the types of duties their

son described? Write a paragraph explaining your view of how Vandivier’s parents would feel about

their son’s duties.