Born: United States of America
Primarily active in: United States of America

Civilian chief of the Army Aviation Test Office at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif. since March 27, 1960 and winner of the AHS' 1960 Alexander Klemin Award, Keith was killed July 25, 1961, when an Army staff car overturned and struck a tree in Los Angeles. Mr. Putnam, one of the nation's top civilian helicopter engineers, received the Klemin award "for achievement in advancing flight test procedures and techniques used in helicopter and other VTOL aircraft."  Before switching to the Army, he was rotary wing project engineering chief of the Air Force Flight Test Center's Flight Test Engineering Div. at Edwards for four of six years with the division. He began working there after graduation from California State Polytechnic College, San Luis Obispo, in 1953 with a BS degree in aeronautical engineering.  A native of Oklahoma City, he lived at Edwards. Private funeral services were held July 28 in Burbank, Calif. for Victor (Keith) K. Putnam, 29. 

Obituary (pg-24) : AHS Newsletter August 1961