Howard Peter Blatchford

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born=25 February 1912
died=3 May 1943
placeofbirth= Edmonton, Alberta
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serviceyears=1936-1943
rank=Wing Commander
unit=No. 212 Squadron RAF, No. 17 Squadron RAF, No. 257 Squadron RAF
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awards=DFC
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Howard Peter "Cowboy" Blatchford DFC (February 25, 1912 –May 3, 1943) a flying ace, who acquired the first Canadian victory in World War II.

He was born in Edmonton, Alberta on February 25, 1912, and enrolled in the RAF in February 1936. He was then posted to No. 41 Squadron in early 1937. In April 1940 he was posted to No. 212 squadron, flying photo-reconnaissance operations. In June he joined the Photographic Development Unit as a flight commander, later transferring to No. 17 squadron in September, flying Hurricanes. He soon joined No 257 Squadron, under the command of S/L Robert Stanford Tuck. Blatchford received the Distinguished Flying Cross in December 1940.

He became Commanding Officer of No. 257 Squadron in July 1941. Blatchford was then promoted to Wing Commander in September that year, becoming Wing leader of the Digby Wing. He finished his tour of duty in April 1943, returning to operations in Feruary 1943 and Wing Commander of the Coltishall Wing.

Leading the wing to escort bomber attacking a power station in Amsterdam, Blatchford was shot down and killed in action on 3 May 1943 by Obfw. Hans Ehlers of II Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 1.His body was never found.Blatchford had by this time claimed 5 aircraft shot down, 3 shared aircraft shot down, 3 'probables', 4 damaged and 1 shared damaged.

Reference

*"Aces High"- C.Shores & C.Williams (Grub Street 1991) page 133.

Notes

Websites

* [http://www.acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/blatchford.htm http://www.acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/blatchford.htm]
* [http://www.rcaf.com/archives/archives_general/aces/aces_ab.htm http://www.rcaf.com/archives/archives_general/aces/aces_ab.htm]
* [http://www.cieldegloire.com/003_blatchford_h_p.php http://www.cieldegloire.com/003_blatchford_h_p.php]

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