Kenneth Lee Porter

Lieutenant Kenneth Lee Porter was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

Kenneth Lee Porter
Lieutenant Kenneth Lee Porter
Born	6 December 1896 Dowagiac, Michigan, US
Died	3 February 1988 Queens, New York City, US
Section 67, Site 441, Arlington National Cemetery	Arlington, Virginia, US
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	Air Service, United States Army
Years of service	1917–1919
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	147th Aero Squadron
Battles / wars	World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Croix de Guerre avec Palme
Alma mater	University of Michigan

World War I service

Porter was an engineering graduate from the University of Michigan 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. He received the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre.

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.

See also

• List of World War I flying aces from the United States

Bibliography

• American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.