“435963 Sergeant Noel William HARPER.
Mother: Mrs. L.E. Harper of Christchurch.
Noel Harper was born in Christchurch on December 2nd 1924, and was educated at the West Christchurch High School and Christchurch Technical College. His sports interests included rowing, table tennis, cycling and mountaineering. He was also an active member of the Fendalton Tennis Club and Wharenui Swimming Club. Prior to enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on April 17th, 1943, he was a member of the Air Training Corps, Christchurch Wing. He was employed by Bing Harris and Co. Ltd. in the capacity of salesman and traveller before joining the Air Training Corps in March, 1942.
Sergeant Harper on acceptance by the Royal New Zealand Air Force was posted to Omaka for ground duties, being transferred to Palmerston North on June 11th, and two months later to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, being reclassified as Leading Aircraftman. On October 16 he moved to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, Ashburton. He was then posted to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim on December 18th where he was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 15th April, 1944. Sergeant Harper was posted to No. 4 Operational Training Unit, Ardmore on April 30th, 1944. After completing his training there he embarked on the 8th August for overseas joining No. 17 Squadron, which in August moved to Guadalcanal.
Sergeant Harper was the pilot of a fighter aircraft which crashed on taking off from No. 2 Fighter Strip, Guadalcanal on September 15th, 1944; Sergeant Harper losing his life in the accident. He was buried in the New Zealand Military Cemetery, Bourail, New Caledonia.” [RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ha - Hy. Archives New Zealand, ID R17845611]