Porter Monroe Pile was born on January 27, 1921, in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. He was the son of Leo V. Pile and Helen Lucille Porter Pile. He was married to Barbara Jane Harper Burnham. He served in the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator of B-24 #42-95078 nicknamed ''Hare Force'' during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24 #42-95078 departed RAF Tibenham, England, as part of a U.S. Eighth Air Force mission to bomb industrial targets at Kassel, Germany. After successfully reaching the target and releasing its bombs, the formation began the return flight to England. Still, the 445th Bomb Group became separated from the main bomber stream due to navigational error. Without adequate fighter protection, the isolated formation was attacked by large numbers of German Luftwaffe fighters. During the intense air battle, the B-24 sustained severe damage and caught fire near the bomb bay. Several crew members were wounded, and three men bailed out of the burning aircraft, surviving but later being captured by German forces and held as prisoners of war. The crippled bomber could not remain airborne and ultimately crashed near Richelsdorf, Germany, killing the remaining crew members or causing their loss during attempted escape.

2Lt Pile was declared Missing in Action and through the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the remains of 2Lt Pile were accounted for in 2022. His name is permanently inscribed on the “Tablets of the Missing” at the Cambridge American Cemetery. He is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.445bg.org, weremember.abmc.gov