Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990
Collection Overview
Title: Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990
ID: OGLMC1213
Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 00/00/1990
Subjects: Civil Rights, Great Depression, Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL), University of North Dakota - Administration, University of North Dakota - Camp Depression
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Subject/Index Terms
Civil Rights
Great Depression
Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL)
University of North Dakota - Administration
University of North Dakota - Camp Depression
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Method: Donation; 90-1723
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Oral History Interviews Collection. OGLMC 1213, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in October 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Item:
[Item 1: Camp Depression - Paul Benson and Raymond Rund],
[Item 2: Camp Depression - John Holodick, Ray Ness, and Ken Gulmon],
[Item 3: Camp Depression - Algot Johnson],
[Item 4: Camp Depression - Mel Johnson],
[Item 5: Camp Depression Interview - Ralph Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, O.A. Hove, Walt Styer, and Franklin Vecon],
[Item 6: Agnes Geelan],
[Item 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater],
[Item 8: Harold Groth and Grace Groth],
[Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger],
[Item 10: Elsie Brown],
[Item 11: Marian Meyers],
[Item 12: Frank Kelly],
[Item 13: Merle Kidder],
[Item 14: William Koenker],
[Item 15: William Koenker],
[Item 16: Soren Kolstoe],
[Item 17: Charles Libby and Margaret Libby Barr],
[Item 18: Henry Martinson],
[Item 19: Henry Martinson],
[Item 20: S.W. Melzer],
[Item 21: Ken Porter],
[Item 22: Benjamin Ring],
[Item 23: Elwyn and Eva Robinson],
[Item 24: Clarence Sande],
[Item 25: Gerald Skogley],
[Item 26: O.A. Stevens],
[Item 27: Robert Wilkins],
[Item 28: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[Item 29: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[All]
- Item 21: Ken Porter
Interviewed by Gordon Iseminger, Robert Wilkins, Playford Thorson, Chuck Haga, and Dan Rylance, August 24, 1976
Ken Porter was a World War I flying ace. He was born in Dowagiac, Michigan, and attended college at Ann Arbor, then entered the U.S. Army Signal Corps at the beginning of World War I.
Porter's squadron arrived in France in February of 1918. They attended training school at Issoudon. In June of 1918 they moved to the Chateau-Thierry front, where they first encountered the German mobile air force, or the "Richtofen Circus." Porter killed his first "hun" on July 2nd of that year.
He was part of the 1st Pursuit Group, shock troops attached to a unit composed primarily of the British Independent Air Force. The I.A.F. would bomb the enemy's lines of retreat and then troops would go in and murder the enemy. They flew at three different echelons. Porter flew in the top level, 20,000 feet, with no oxygen. He described the clothing they wore to protect against the extreme cold at that altitude. Porter officially shot down six planes.
Toward the end of the war, Porter was once shot down between the lines, and landed in "no man's land," where all of the vegetation had been destroyed by the gas used in four years of fighting. He was discovered by another American. Porter's plane knocked out the main communications line on the front when he landed.
He said mechanical failure and wind conditions were two major problems. The prevailing wind was into Germany, so it was difficult to get back after combat over the lines or in Germany, and many planes ran out of fuel. He also said that Americans were better fighter pilots than the Germans because Americans were better able to handle unexpected situations.
Most of the interview focuses on the World War I years.
Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 778 and 779
Transcript: OGLMC 1213, Box 1, Folder 18
Browse by Item:
[Item 1: Camp Depression - Paul Benson and Raymond Rund],
[Item 2: Camp Depression - John Holodick, Ray Ness, and Ken Gulmon],
[Item 3: Camp Depression - Algot Johnson],
[Item 4: Camp Depression - Mel Johnson],
[Item 5: Camp Depression Interview - Ralph Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, O.A. Hove, Walt Styer, and Franklin Vecon],
[Item 6: Agnes Geelan],
[Item 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater],
[Item 8: Harold Groth and Grace Groth],
[Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger],
[Item 10: Elsie Brown],
[Item 11: Marian Meyers],
[Item 12: Frank Kelly],
[Item 13: Merle Kidder],
[Item 14: William Koenker],
[Item 15: William Koenker],
[Item 16: Soren Kolstoe],
[Item 17: Charles Libby and Margaret Libby Barr],
[Item 18: Henry Martinson],
[Item 19: Henry Martinson],
[Item 20: S.W. Melzer],
[Item 21: Ken Porter],
[Item 22: Benjamin Ring],
[Item 23: Elwyn and Eva Robinson],
[Item 24: Clarence Sande],
[Item 25: Gerald Skogley],
[Item 26: O.A. Stevens],
[Item 27: Robert Wilkins],
[Item 28: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[Item 29: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[All]