37715 F/Lt. Howard P. BLATCHFORD 17 & 257 Squads, Shot down the first Canadian Victory, 17th October, 1939. .From Edmonton, Alberta
he was born 25 Feb.1912.0n 11 November he shot down a Fiat BR20
On 17 Nov. he shot down a Me109 into the sea and was awarded the
DFC. On the night of 11/12 May he shot down a HeIII. He took over
command of 257 in July 41 and in September was promoted to lead
the Canadian Wing at Digby. On 18 Feb,1942 he shot down a FW190
He was then rested.He returned to operations as Wing Leader of the
Coltishall Wing 05 Feb 43. On 18 March, he shot down two FW190’s
03 May, escorted bombers to attack the power station at Amsterdam
and he was shot down into the sea.On Runnymede Mem.Panel 118

Cowboy Blatchford

This aircraft (RCAF NO. 2423) was manufactured in 1942 by National Steel Car Company at Malton (Toronto) under license from Westland Aircraft Corporation, England. World-wide, 1660 models were built, 225 in Canada. The STOL (short take off and landing) design uses an elaborate system of leading-edge Handley Page slats and large flaps enabled the aircraft to use unprepared landing strips in battlefield conditions. Under certain conditions as little as 165 yards was all the take-off distance required. In service with No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta. 

This image appeared on the cover of the American "Air News" magazine of Nov. 1943.


RCAF Westland Lysander 1943

Canadian armour deploys near Caen, Normandy, 1944.  Canadian forces in general, not least their armour, played a major part in the fighting in the northern part of the Normandy theatre, which facilitated the major Allied breakout towards the south.  Best regards, JR.