When World War 2 began in 1939 Howard did not enlist, however in 1941 he made the brave decision to enlist in the war as a flight officer and kept serving at his job as a banker which overall he was at for four years. Although Howard was a quiet man, he was committed and determined in battle and he was very confident. After serving for about 2 years on October 25 1943, he tragically went missing in action and is presumed to have crashed his plane. In his will he left his entire estate to his mother. Although his body was never recovered his grave is in Alamein memorial. 

    His skill as a flight officer did not go unrecognized during his time at war. It is said he was a good fit for the military and was a team worker, decisive, cautious and active. Howard got his awarded pilots flying badge November 21st 1941. It is also listed that he was recommended in the service quadrant first as a bomber, 2nd as a fighter and 3rd as a general reconnaissance. Shockingly enough Howard failed his flying navtion test the first time but was still allowed to fly due to lack of flight officers, so it is assumed that he was a self taught flier.   

  In a letter found in Howards military service record a close friend of his writes to his parents describing the events of his death. His plane took off at 5:50 am on October 25th and when he did not return another aircraft was set out at 9:00 am in search of Howards whereabouts. Not long after a report came in that an aircraft was seen attempting to land on a beach south of the Drome however it crashed and the remains sunk into the sea. All that was found of the wreckage was a singular wheel of the plane. Howard had done a lot of flying in Mogadishu and was said to know the country very well. On the day of his departure it was storming and it's suspected that he got lost in the winds of the storm and his patrol gave out when he was almost at his destination. “I talked a long time with his two corporals, with whom he was of the most happy of terms. I cannot describe to you how overcome they were by this blow, so cruel and sudden.” said C.R Bogie, Howards friend and commanding officer. “As his commanding officer it is my duty to write this letter, but I feel though that it is my privilege as his friend to write and tell you how much I think of him and the promise he showed”. It's clear to see even though Howard was alone at the time of his death, many people on the battlefield were anxiously waiting for Howard's return. A return that would never happen.   

Il s'est enrôlé volontairement dans l'ARC (Armée de l'air royale canadienne) le 12 décembre 1941, à Winnipeg, où il a été affecté au 2/13e bataillon de campagne. Howard a ensuite entamé son long périple pour servir son pays. Le 21 mai 1942, il a été promu temporairement au grade de sergent de section pour une certaine période avant de quitter ses fonctions. Le 15 mai 1943, Howard a commencé son voyage outre-mer et s'est embarqué pour l'Angleterre où il a servi pendant quelques mois, avant d'être transféré au quartier général de la force aviation d'Afrique de l'Est le 15 juillet 1943. Il a passé la plupart de son temps en tant que pilote, fournissant des informations météorologiques essentielles aux troupes militaires au sol.

Pendant son service militaire, il n'a reçu aucune récompense et n'a subi aucune blessure, mais Howard était un bon homme qui a tout mis de côté pour servir son pays. Il a tout risqué pour avoir l'opportunité de se battre pour la liberté, sans savoir que ce serait la dernière fois qu'il verrait le pays qu'il aimait. Il est parti avec courage et bravoure. Lors d'un vol en Afrique de l'Est (vol météorologique 1414), destiné à fournir des informations météorologiques essentielles aux opérations militaires dans la région, un tragique accident d'avion s'est produit sur la côte ouest de l'Afrique, où son avion est entré en collision avec un autre, provoquant une explosion qui a causé sa mort. Le 25 octobre 1943, il a été présumé mort après avoir été porté disparu lors d'opérations aériennes avant l'accident, ce qui a confirmé la terrible nouvelle à ses proches et à ses frères d'armes. Howard repose désormais à El Alamein, en Égypte, aux côtés de certains de ses camarades tombés au combat aussi.

Primary Source Documents : https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1282287?Howard%20Pearson%20Ralph

Canada Virtual War memorial:  https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1282287

Canadian Fallen: https://canadianfallen.ca/85302/RALPH

Military Service records:https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=kia&IdNumber=29407&ecopy=44486_83024005506_1153-00382

Canada, Veterans Affairs. Howard Pearson Ralph - the Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada. 29 Jan. 2024, www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1282287. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Library and Archives Canada. RALPH, HOWARD PEARSON  (1 Digital Object(S)) Genealogy / Military / Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947. 28 Oct. 2025, recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=kia&idnumber=29407&ecopy=44486_83024005506_1153-00382. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

FLT O Howard Pearson Ralph (1919-1943) - Find A... 11 Sept. 2020, www.findagrave.com/memorial/215470231/howard-pearson-ralph#view-photo=212689209. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

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- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.