Allegiance United States Name Kenneth Porter Years of service 1917–1919 Battles and wars World War I | Rank Lieutenant Unit 147th Aero Squadron Battles/wars World War I | |
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Section 67, Site 441, Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia, USA Died February 3, 1988, Queens, New York City, New York, United States Service/branch United States Army Air Service Awards Distinguished Service Cross, Croix de Guerre | ||
Lieutenant Kenneth Lee Porter was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
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World War I service
Porter was an engineering graduate from Michigan University who joined the U.S. Army Air Service in August 1917. He reported to the 147th Aero Squadron in February 1918. While on patrol with Ralph O'Neill and four other American pilots, they shot down a Pfalz D.III over Château Thierry on 2 July. After switching his Nieuport 28 for a Spad XIII, Porter would score four more times, from 28 September through 12 October 1918, sharing his scores with Wilbert White, Francis Simonds, and three other pilots. He also became a Flight Commander.
Postwar
He worked for Burroughs Corporation and the Pesco Pump Co. in New York until World War II. During the war, he worked with Boeing. Afterwards, he returned to civilian engineering.