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. ==Postwar==