Captain Vanderwilt was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 80th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter Bomber Group. On 5 August 1952, while on a combat mission, his aircraft dove to attack an enemy truck column, received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Captain Vanderwilt was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.