Earl Porter

Military
media-47705.jpeg UPL 47705 A-26C-20-DT #43-22547 Code: #52
47th BG - 86th BS - 12th AF
Grosetto, Italy
Entering cockpit: Lt. Colonel Marion Akers
Entering nose: 1LT Joseph Bitzko B/N
Standing at ladder: SSGT Earl Porter

added names to caption
"47th Bomb Group" - Turner Publishing, page 100

Object Number - UPL 47705 - A-26C-20-DT #43-22547 Code: #52 47th BG - 86th BS - 12th AF Grosetto, Italy Entering cockpit: Lt. Colonel Marion Akers Entering nose: 1LT...

Connections

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Units served with

A-26 Invaders, including (serial number 43-22575) of the 47th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force lined up in Italy.

47th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

86th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Marion Jesse Akers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-34490
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot - Squadron Commander

Aircraft

43-22547

  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron

Places

Ground personnel of the 51st Fighter Group, 10th Air Force work on a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-29264). Handwritten caption on reverse: '51 FG, 316 FS, [illegible].'

Grosetto

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Grosetto Main

Poretta

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bastia – Poretta Airport

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Winfree, Texas 28 March 1924

Enlisted

Houston, Texas 7 June 1943

Died

Mont Belvieu, Texas 31 October 2015 Earl Porter, 91, of Mont Belvieu, TX, went to meet our Lord on October 31, 2015. Earl was born March 28, 1924, in Winfree, TX to Charlie and Doris Cooper Porter. A lifelong resident of Old River-Winfree and Mont Belvieu, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Mont Belvieu for 62 years. Earl attended Barbers Hill schools, and the day after high school graduation, he joined the military as a member of the U.S. Army Air Force, and was a member of the 47th Bomber Group, 12th Air Force, 86th Bomb Squadron. He served in England, Africa, Italy, France and Corsica. Earl flew as a bombardier/navigator in A-20 and A-26 bombers, flying 132 bombing missions because he was always willing to fill in when another crew was missing a member. This was an amazing feat, since at that time the average crew member flew 50 missions. Multiple times he had to bail out because his planes were shot down. He was once hidden in a French family's cellar, and he travelled at night for over a week to get to friendly territory. Earl received several awards during his service, including the Purple Heart, EAME Campaign medal with 7 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct medal, and many others. After being wounded, Earl never missed any time during his service to his country. He served as Fire Chief of the Barbers Hill Volunteer Fire Department, several terms as a city councilman, was the third Mayor of Mont Belvieu, and served several terms as Chambers County Commissioner. Earl was instrumental in helping create the incorporation of the City of Mont Belvieu, the Veterans Memorial Park, the Barbers Hill Homecoming & Scholarship Association, and the Barbers Hill Sports Hall of Honor. He and his wife gave many hours of community service, providing barbeques, fish fries, ice cream suppers, and other events, too numerous to count, to benefit community and school organizations. In honor of his many years of selfless community service, the City of Mont Belvieu appropriately renamed the street to “Earl Porter Drive,” where he and wife Marian lived for over 50 years. He also received the honor of being named the West Chambers County Person of the Year. Earl was a 33rd degree Master Mason belonging to the Old River Masonic Lodge #1442.

Buried

Dayton, Texas 4 November 2015 Magnolia Park Cemetery Dayton, Liberty County, Texas, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=40&cat=all&t…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154531594/earl-porter
"47th Bomb Group - Turner Publishing, pages 88-89

Earl Porter: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 47705 - A-26C-20-DT #43-22547 Code: #52 47th BG - 86th BS...