Noel Sharp

Flying Officer Noel Callan Sharp, DFC (9 February 1922 – 20 February 1942) was a New Zealand pilot of No. 488 Squadron RNZAF. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Sharp worked as a bank clerk. He flew a Brewster Buffalo aircraft, recognizable by his personal emblem, a dragon-like insignia printed on both sides of the front fuselage.

Sharp is credited with three kills during the Battle of Malaya. He claimed an unknown Japanese fighter on January 12, a Ki-43 Oscar the next day, an A6M Zero on January 18 and damaged two bombers on January 20.

He was shot down on 17 January 1942 but survived. Engineers were able to repair his aircraft, replacing the front section of the engine cowling with that of another plane. On 7 February, 1942, Sharp flew to Palembang, the Dutch East Indies in his Buffalo aircraft, where it never flew again.

He was killed in action on 20 February 1942, flying a Hawker Hurricane. He was 20 years old. Sharp was buried in the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 26 December, 1946.

See Also

• No. 488 Squadron RNZAF