Kenneth Porter (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Kenneth Lee Porter was a World War I flying ace
credited with five aerial victories.
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.
. Afterwards, he returned to civilian engineering.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with five aerial victories.
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.IIIPfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
over Château Thierry on 2 July. After switching his Nieuport 28
Nieuport 28
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, UK: Harleyford Publications, 1960, pp. 98–99....
for a Spad XIII, Porter would score four more times, from 28 September through 12 October 1918, sharing his scores with Wilbert White
Wilbert White
Lieutenant Wilbert Wallace White, Jr. was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his heroic self-sacrifice.-Early life:...
, Francis Simonds
Francis Simonds
Lieutenant Francis May Simonds was an American World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.Simonds was assigned to the 147th Aero Squadron on 23 February 1918. He won his five aerial victories from July through October 1918.-References:...
, 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 BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
. Afterwards, he returned to civilian engineering.