Dixie Kiefer

Dixie Kiefer (April 5, 1896 – November 11, 1945) was a United States Navy officer who served during World War II as Executive Officer of USS Yorktown and commanding officer of USS Ticonderoga. He was one of the Navy's best known figures during the war.

Born in eastern Idaho at Blackfoot, Kiefer was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Kiefer and graduated from Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1915 and was commissioned in June 1918. His first assignment was USS Corona, a small anti-submarine patrol vessel operating in European waters during the last part of World War I.

In the 1920s, Kiefer became a pilot in the fledgling aviation branch of the Navy. On 11 November 1924, he made the first ever night take-off from a warship. His plane, a Vought UO-1, was launched by catapult from USS California in the harbor of San Diego. The only illumination was California's searchlights, directed 1,000 yards in the distance.

By World War II, Kiefer had risen to the rank of Commander. He served as Executive Officer (second in command) of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in the Battle of Coral Sea and Battle of Midway. He received the Distinguished Service Medal for Coral Sea and the Navy Cross for Midway. When Yorktown was sunk at Midway, Kiefer shattered his right leg and ankle while leaping from the ship.

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