Orson Sharp

Orson Sharp (ca. 1922-1943) was a Mormon lad from Salt Lake City, Utah. He joined the United States Navy after the Emppire of Japan conquered the American territory of Hawaii.

On the train to flight school in North Carolina, Sharp met and became close friends with Joe Crosetti of San Francisco. Crosetti found the Mormon Sharp to be a bit of a puzzle, particularly his casual adherence to his ethical code and indifference to the opinions of his colleagues. Sharp and Crossetti became fast friends. Sharp had an excellent grasp of the mathmatical principles required for navigation; Crosetti had a strong grasp of the mechanics of flying. Thus, both were able to help each other through flight school. Sharp seemed to move along somewhat faster than Crosetti, but his good nature calmed Crosetti's jealousy.

Sharp and Crosetti were part of American invasion fleet that took back Hawaii in 1943. Sharp's plane was shot down early in the fighting, before U.S. Marines had made land fall.