Noel Sharp
Noel Callan Sharp, DFC was a New Zealand pilot of No. 488 Squadron RNZAF. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Sharp worked as a bank clerk.[New Zealand Air Force - Bank Clerk/Flying Officer">] He flew a Brewster Buffalo aircraft, recognizable by his personal nose art, a striking Chinese dragon motif painted on the fuselage under the cockpit windshield.
Sharp is credited with three kills during the Malayan Campaign. He claimed an unknown Japanese fighter on 12 January, a Nakajima Ki-43 on 13 January, and damaged two bombers on 20 January. He was credited with an A6M Zero for his third victory on 18 January, but in the process had most of his rudder shot away; he was able to land his crippled Buffalo safely. Several hours later, he and a few other pilots were scrambled again to intercept another Japanese air raid. However, the Buffalos were attacked by enemy fighters while they were still climbing, forcing Sharp to make his second emergency landing of the day.
Sharp was evacuated from Singapore before its capitulation, along with his Buffalo which was successfully repaired by ground crews. The aircraft was destroyed at Palembang, South Sumatra during a Japanese air raid on 7 February 1942. Sharp was killed in action over Java on 20 February 1942, while flying a Hawker Hurricane with No. 605 Squadron RAF. He was 20 years old. Sharp was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 20 December 1946. His name can be found on column 421 at the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore.External Links
