Thomas Sharpe (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Captain Thomas Sydney Sharpe was a World War I
flying ace
credited with six aerial victories.
Sharpe joined the Royal Flying Corps
and flew with 24 Squadron from May to July 1916. Subsequently, in 1918, he was appointed a flight commander in 73 Squadron. He destroyed a Fokker Dr.I
triplane on 11 March 1918, flying Sopwith Camel
No. B5627. He then used No. C1619 for the remainder of his victories; he destroyed an Albatros D.V
and two LVG
reconnaissance planes on 22 March, and destroyed a pair of D.Vs two days later. Three days later, on 27 March, he was wounded in action and shot down. The identity of his probable conqueror is debatable. It has been credited to Hans Kirschstein
, or to Manfred von Richthofen
; Sharpe himself credited enemy antiaircraft fire.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with six aerial victories.
Sharpe joined the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and flew with 24 Squadron from May to July 1916. Subsequently, in 1918, he was appointed a flight commander in 73 Squadron. He destroyed a Fokker Dr.I
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
triplane on 11 March 1918, flying Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
No. B5627. He then used No. C1619 for the remainder of his victories; he destroyed an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
and two LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
reconnaissance planes on 22 March, and destroyed a pair of D.Vs two days later. Three days later, on 27 March, he was wounded in action and shot down. The identity of his probable conqueror is debatable. It has been credited to Hans Kirschstein
Hans Kirschstein
Hans Kirschstein , winner of the Pour le Merite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, and the Iron Cross was a German lieutenant and World War I fighter ace credited with 27 aerial victories.-Early life:...
, or to Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
; Sharpe himself credited enemy antiaircraft fire.