Keith K. McDaniel papers, 1927-1970

Keith K, McDaniel attended the University of Idaho 1932-37 majoring in the field of Civil Engineering. Prior to 1932 He served a tour of duty in the U.S. Marines during which time he began his training in heavy armament. After Graduation he worked in the field of Civil Engineering for three years before joining The Boeing Company in February 1940.

From 1940 to 1945 he was involved in armament installed on all Boeing airplanes. He participated in the design and test functions on all advanced armament systems on the B-17, XF8Bl, XPBBl, B-29 and XB47 aircraft and instructed Air Corps personnel in the operation of the B-29 Remote Fire Control System.

In 1945, he was transferred to the Ground-To-Air Pilotless Aircraft (GAPA) preliminary design project as Group Engineer and from 1945 through 1958 he was Boeing Guided Missile Field Director, responsible for direction of missile testing at Wendover, Utah and Almagordo, New Mexico, and for establishing the Bomarc test facility at Cape Canaveral (now Cape Kennedy). The Bomarc missiles were the world's first long-range anti-aircraft missiles and the first missiles that Boeing mass-produced. Boeing also designed and built launch facilities for them though few of these ever went into operation.

In 1947 he became a registered Professional Aeronautical Engineer.

In 1958 he became Manager, Base Installation Department, of the Bomarc project with responsibility for establishing a department for the building, installation, and checkout of all Bomarc tactical base.

1960 he was assigned to the position of Assistant Chief of Systems Test - Field Operations, responsible for base management and control of Research and design testing of all test operations pertaining to Bomarc, Minuteman, and Dyna-Soar projects.

1961 He was appointed Assistant Director-Test Base Operations for all existing missile programs, except Minuteman operational bases.

1964 his title was changed to Assistant Director-Systems Test carrying the same responsibilities as in Test Base Operations. July 1964 he was appointed Manager of Bomarc Applications, responsible for the development and application of the Bomarc missile and system for use as a target' drone by all services.

December, 1965 he was assigned Program Manager, Hill Engineering Test Facility to accomplish the delivery of a WS-133A (Minuteman Missile) test installation at Ogden, Utah and development of its use in cooperation with the Air Force, and planning and development of a test installation to accommodate the WS-133B testing facility.

1969, he became Manager of Logistics Engineering - Minuteman Program responsible for the organizations of Trainer Design and Installation, Service Engineering, Publications (including Technical and Maintenance documents) and Spares for the Minuteman Program.