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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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605
605 Squadron Hurricane I F/O. Noel Callan Sharp DFC

Operation: Strafing

Date: 01st March 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 605 Squadron (motto: Nunquam Dormio - 'I Never Sleep')

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: Not known

Code: UP-?

Base: Tjilitjan, Java

Location: Beach in Java

Pilot: F/O. Noel Callan Sharp NZ/411455 RNZAF Age 20. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at dawn to attack enemy troops landing at Indramaju, Java.

His Hurricane was hit by anti-aircraft fire during a low level strafing run along the beach.

F/O. Sharp managed to belly land his Hurricane in a paddy field two miles inland. His number two saw him exit safely from the aircraft and to then set it on fire. He waved to him, but nothing further was heard of him.

Hr is credited with three kills during the Malayan Campaign. Claimed an unknown Japanese fighter on the 12th January, a Nakajima Ki-43 on the 13th January, and damaged two bombers on the 20th January. Credited with an A6M Zero for his third victory on the 18th 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 F/O. Sharp to make his second emergency landing of the day

Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the 20th December 1946, In recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations.

Above and below whilst with 243 squadron


Burial details:

F/O. Noel Callan Sharp. Singapore Memorial. Column 421. Born on the 09th February 1922 in Auckland. Educated at Mt. Albert Grammar School. Worked as a bank for Auckland Savings Bank. Enlisted at Levin on the 02nd March 1941. Trained at No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School 13th April 1941. No. 1 Flying Training School 24th May 1941.

Pilot badge awarded on the 05th July 1941 and commissioned on the 16th August 1941. Embarked for Singapore on the 11th September and joined 488 squadron on the 10th October 1941. Attached to 21 squadron RAAF for conversion training 12-18th October. Attached to 243 squadron in January 1942. Involved in a crash landing in the jungle after running out of fuel on the 14th February 1942 but suffered no injuries. Joined 605 squadron on the 22nd February flying the Hurricane.

Son of William Callan Sharp (died 14th September 1956, age 58) and Hilda Alice Sharp (née Reynolds), of Mount Eden, Auckland City, New Zealand.

(note - the CWGC and the New Zealand Cenotaph incorrectly records his death as the 20th February 1942).


Above L-R: Rear; Kenneth Jack McAneny NZ/411421 ✞, M.R Seansie, James Ronald Steer, Leonard Percival Kerr NZ/411412 ✞, T.W.K Smith, Noel Callan Sharp NA/411455 ✞.
Centre; R.T.L Nicholls, H.S Sheperd, Stanley Warrington NZ/411480, D.R Ross, B.C Mansell, P.L.A McFarland.
Front; L.R Sommerville, Clarence Lloyd Kelly NZ/39559 ✞, T.E Lawrence NZ/411494, Arthur Norman Sames NZ/411453, Arthur Dudley Morris NZ/401939, Alan Campbell Williamson NZ/411487 ✞. (Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archives Kew. AIR-27=2089-21.22.

Other sources as quoted below:

KTY 21-05-2023

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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