Evelyn Sharp

Evelyn Genevieve "Sharpie" Sharp (October 1, 1919 – April 3, 1944) was an American aviator. She was a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Sharp died at age 24, when the plane she was flying lost an engine during takeoff.

Early life Sharp was born Lois Genevieve Crouse on October 1, 1919, in Melstone, Montana, to Elsie Adelie Haeske Crouse and Orla Crouse. She was adopted by John and Mary Sharp two months later, on December 22, 1919, and her name was changed to Evelyn Genevieve Sharp.

The Sharps moved to Ord, Nebraska, in 1924 and opened a grocery store. In 1928, Orla Sharp purchased a ranch and tried ranching for a time, but within a year sold the ranch and returned to Ord, where he opened a cafe and offered rooms to let. After 25 lessons over the course of 13 months, she flew solo in an Aeronca C-3 on March 4, 1936.

World War II L-R, WAFS Barbara London prepares to take off in the P-51 Mustang, Evelyn Sharp wears the gabardine WAFS uniform. The WAFS were disappointed when they had to exchange their uniform for the Santiago Blues worn by the WASPs.

Sharp was one of the original Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) pilots, with over 3,000 flight hours logged when she joined. The WAFS (under Nancy Love) were soon merged with the Women's Flying Training Detachment (under Jacqueline Cochran) to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

Sharp died on April 3, 1944, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, when the P-38 Lightning she was ferrying lost an engine on takeoff from New Cumberland Airport and crashed. She was 24 years old.

Legacy At the time of her death she was a squadron commander, only three flights from her fifth rating, the highest certificate then available to women.

She is buried in Ord, Nebraska, where a public airfield, the Evelyn Sharp Field Airport, has been named for her. Every June, Ord celebrates Evelyn Sharp Days in her honor.

On August 26-27, 2023, a pair of Sharp's earrings in the shape of tiny P-38 aircraft were worn at the Guardians of Freedom Air Show in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Air Force Capt. Aimee “Rebel” Fiedler — an F-16C fighter pilot with the Viper Team.