Description

Nice Air Ministry Picture (pressphoto) off Howard Peter Blatchford (37715) Battle of Britain.

Battle of Britain Pilot and Wing Commander.
In December 1940, Blatchford was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross:
Flight Lieutenant Howard Peter Blatchford (37715), No. 257 Squadron. In November, 1940, this officer was the leader of a squadron which destroyed eight and damaged a further five enemy aircraft in one day. In the course of the combat he rammed and damaged a hostile fighter when his ammunition was expended, and then made two determined head-on feint attacks on enemy fighters, which drove them off. He has shown magnificent leadership and outstanding courage.

At the time of his death, Blatchford had claimed five aircraft shot down, three shared aircraft shot down, three “probables”, four damaged and one shared damaged.