Howard Peter "Cowboy" Blatchford DFC (25 February 1912 – 3 May 1943) a flying ace, who acquired the first Canadian victory in World War II. He was born in Edmonton, Alberta on 25 February 1912, and enrolled in the Royal Air Force in February 1936. He was then posted to No. 41 Squadron RAF in early 1937. In April 1940 he was posted to No. 212 Squadron RAF, flying photo-reconnaissance operations. In June he joined the Photographic Development Unit as a flight commander, later transferring to No. 17 Squadron RAF in September, flying Hurricanes. He soon joined No. 257 Squadron RAF, under the command of Sqn Ldr Robert Stanford Tuck.