Masterson, Kleber S., Vice Adm., USN (Ret.)
(1908–1998)
Admiral Masterson was assigned to the Arizona (BB-39) before World War II, and fortunately was ashore when she was sunk at Pearl Harbor. He was then transferred to the Pennsylvania (BB-38) and was involved in the Aleutians campaign. In 1944 was in Ship Characteristics and Fleet Requirements Branch of BuOrd; later head of Engineering Planning of that bureau. Further duties were: Readiness and Training Officer with CinCLant Fleet; Commander Destroyer Division 102; CO of the attack transport Lenawee (APA-195) during Korean conflict; Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, Albuquerque; CO of the first guided missile cruiser Boston (CAG-1); executive member of Navy Ballistic Missiles Committee, which played major role in developing Polaris; Chief of Bureau of Naval Weapons; Commander of the Second Fleet; and Director of Weapons Systems Evaluation Group, OSD, until retirement in 1969.
About this Volume
Based on seven interviews conducted by John T. Mason, Jr., from November 1972 through April 1973. The volume contains 493 pages of interview transcript plus an index and appendices. The transcript is copyright 1973 by the U.S. Naval Institute; the interviewee has placed no restrictions on its use.