Early Life and Career
Keyhoe was born and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa. He earned a B.S. degree at the United States Naval Academy in 1919, and was commissioned a Marine Corps Lieutenant.
In 1922, his arm was injured during an airplane crash in Guam. During his long convalescence, Keyhoe began writing as a hobby. He eventually returned to active duty, but the injury gave Keyhoe persistent trouble, and, as a result, he retired from the Marines in 1923. He then worked for the National Geodetic Survey and U.S. Department of Commerce.
In 1927, Keyhoe managed a very popular coast-to-coast tour by Charles Lindbergh. This led to Keyhoe's first book, 1928's Flying With Lindbergh. The book was a quick success, and led to a freelance writing career, with many of Keyhoe's articles and fictional stories (mostly related to aviation) appearing in a variety of leading publications.
Keyhoe returned to active duty during World War II in a Naval Aviation Training Division, retiring again a Major.
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