As the attack commenced, the Dauntless dive bombers of Bombing 6 jockeyed for position with those of Scouting 6. Vandivier's division followed the 2d division whose commander saw that many of Scouting 6's bombs were missing the "left hand" aircraft carrier — now known to have been Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's flagship "Akagi". Rather than follow the 1st division in its attack on "Kaga", which seemed well taken care of with critical hits, the 2d and 3d divisions bore down on "Akagi". In due course, it was Ens. Vandivier's turn. Over he went and then down, toward the flagship of the Pearl Harbor attack force. He released his bomb — whether or not it was a hit or a near miss will never be known — and pulled out of the dive. He banked his plane and headed home. He later reported by radio that he was making a water landing, but he and his gunner were never seen nor heard of again.