Kenneth Porter (RAF officer)

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Sir Kenneth Porter
Born 12 November 1912
Died 28 March 2003 (2003-03-29) (aged 90)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1928–1970
Rank Air Marshal
Commands held RAF Maintenance Command
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Air Marshal Sir (Melvin) Kenneth (Drowley) Porter KCB CBE (12 November 1912 – 28 March 2003) was a senior Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Maintenance Command.

RAF career

Porter joined the Royal Air Force in 1928.[1] He was appointed Chief Signals Officer at Headquarters RAF Balloon Command in 1939 and served in World War II as Chief Signals Officer at No. 11 Group, then No. 83 Group followed by Second Tactical Air Force just when air support was needed for the Normandy landings.[2]

After the War he joined the Directing Staff at the RAF Staff College, Andover and then, from 1950, became Senior Technical Staff Officer at Headquarters No. 205 Group.[1] He went on to be Officer Commanding at No. 2 Air Signallers School in 1952 and Officer Commanding at No. 1 Air Signallers School in 1953 before returning to the role of Chief Signals Officer at Headquarters Second Tactical Air Force in 1954.[1] He became Chief Signals Officer at Headquarters RAF Fighter Command in 1955, Commandant at No. 4 School of Technical Training in 1959 and Director General of Ground Training at the Ministry of Defence in 1961.[3] His last appointments were as Director-General of Signals (Air) at the Ministry of Defence in 1963 and as Air Officer Commanding RAF Maintenance Command in 1966 before retiring in 1970.[1]

In retirement he became Director of Technical Education Projects at University College, Cardiff.[2]

Family

In 1940 he married Elena Sinclair: they had two sons and one daughter.[3]

References

Military offices
Preceded by Director General of Signals
1963–1966
Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command
1966–1970
Succeeded by
Sir John Rowlands