No one with the name Shelby is on our KIA list. Just looking at the photo my guess is that this guy may be an Army pilot. The Army wore white name tapes over their right pocket until about 1965. I also know the Army pilots in the early 1960's flew in utility uniforms, and later started wearing flight suits. The aircraft in the background also looks like an Army B model. The national insignia on the aircraft also leads me to believe this is an Army aircraft. Usually the word MARINES would be on the tail boom.

Maybe fixedwing?

After looking at the picture, I'm wondering if this guy might have been fixed wing aircraft pilot. She is wearing a 'chute. Or maybe that has nothing to do with anything. I do agree that I don't think he's Marine Corps, I remember name tags on flight suits at an angle, but then I was only in 4 years. (boot)

Try the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association website. It's Army and has a KIA list and a message board. www.vhpa.org

Good Luck

only two KIAs with last name = "Shelby" Vietnam

JAMES BENJAMIN SHELBY
Army - SP4 - E4
9th Infantry Division
Age - 21
Date of Birth - Feb 26, 1948
From - PEORIA , ILLINOIS

JAY CLAYTON SHELBY
Army - SP4 - E4
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
Age - 25
Date of Birth - Nov 08, 1941
From - NEBO , ILLINOIS

Two Helicopter KIAs with "Shelby" as first name or middle name

FYI

SHELBY MARCENE LONG

SP4 - E4 - Army - Regular
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
20 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on Aug 28, 1949
From CHILLICOTHE, OHIO
Length of service 2 years.
His tour of duty began on Feb 17, 1969
Casualty was on Oct 22, 1969
in PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
Non-Hostile, died of illness/injury
HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Religion
PROTESTANT

Panel 17W - - Line 105

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAROLD SHELBY WOOD JR

SP5 - E5 - Army - Regular
1st AVN BDE
25 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on May 14, 1942
From LEWISBURG, KENTUCKY
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Jun 09, 1967
Casualty was on Mar 19, 1968
in LONG AN, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Religion
BAPTIST

Panel 45E - - Line 36

The name tag would have the last name not a first name. My USMC flight suits have slanted chest pockets, but my name tag was always in leather on the left.

About the parachute: When I first flew helos in the early '60s, if the flight expected to go above 3500 feet agl, NATOPS required that a chute be worn. It made sense. The magnesium aircraft we flew, if they caught fire at a high altitude, only ashes and the engine would hit the ground. We had a paraloft in VMO-6 at CamPen in '64, but we also had O-1C's.
Lanny

Thanks!!

I took a moment to register, here.. So that I could personally thank all of you, for your tremendous help!!

The comments on the Uniform detailling, was particularly insightful. I'll assume that this Shelby fella is then: Army. And not: Marine..

I'm going to go the 'Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association' website & message board, as suggested. Perhaps someone there will recognize who this guy is, for me..

Again,-- MANY thanks to all of you.. for your time, energy, & kind consideration; in this matter.
It's VERY much appreciated!!

Cheers!

-- Rich

Shelby

A good Friend of mine, Mike Law, was an Army Helo pilot in Viet Nam. He has worked directly with the HUGE database the 'Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association' has for the past 18-20 years. Unfortunately he and his wife are serving a mission for their Church in Africa right now and won't return for about one more year. However, once they return to Colorado I am positive that he will be anxious to help you in any way he can. He does not have all his data with him in Africa, and their email service is horrible there. However, he may be able to direct you in some direction or point you to an individual that may help you. I don't think he will mind me sharing his email address with you, if you want to try sending him a "help - request". His email is: MGLAW@EARTHLINK.NET. You can tell him that John Nicholson referred you to him.

Good Hunting
John