Major James Morley Shaw (USAF Retired) flew west on March 18, 2025.
Shaw was born on August 28, 1942, the eldest son of Robert Gove and Elizabeth Morley Shaw in Oklahoma City, OK. He attended West Nichols Hills Elementary School and John Marshall Jr. and Sr. High School, graduating in 1960. While at John Marshall he was active in band, chorus, Glee Club, Ground Observer Corps, and Civil Air Patrol Cadets. Jim then attended junior college at New Mexico Military Institute graduating in 1962, where he was active in band, Drum and Bugle Corps, and choir; he then attended University of Oklahoma for one year. In February 1964, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the OKANG for the purpose of attending undergraduate navigator training from which he graduated on August 6, 1965. While flying virtually full time with the ANG throughout the Pacific and SE Asia, Europe, and South America, he was a part time student at Oklahoma State University from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Science & History in 1969. He then requested to be called into active service but there were no recall quotas available at the time. In August of 1970 he married Annie Caroline Johnson. He then went to work for Pinkerton Detective Agency, first as a security guard and later as an Investigator.
In 1971 active duty recall quotas became available again. He entered active service and attended F-4 transition training at Luke AFB AZ before being stationed at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. Assigned to the 25th TFS at Soesterburf AB, Holland, and then the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Keflavik Naval Air Squadron, Iceland, where he intercepted 28 Soviet aircraft transitioning Icelandic airspace.
Returning stateside in 1979 he served with the 474th TFS at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, as Chief of Inspection for two years before being assigned to RAF Upper Heyford, England as Chief of Wing Operations Center. In 1986 he was transferred to Ft. Stewart, GA to be the Air Liason Officer to the 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division where he served until retirement in 1989. Following his military career he continued his service to his country as a defense contractor supporting the U.S. Army Battle Command Training Program at Leavenworth, KS, where he became Chief of Opposition Forces, Operations Group C. BCTP. He retired from the position on August 6, 2014.
His awards and decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross w/ Valor and 3 Oak Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/ 17 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal w/ 20 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Combat Readiness Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, State of Oklahoma Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 9 Campaign Stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
During his career he accumulated 5,819 hours in T-29, C-97G, C124C, F-4c/D/E, C-47 and J-3 aircraft, to include 450 hours of combat time. He was a life member of the Air Force Assn., The Military Officers Assn., the Red River Fighter Pilots Assn., VFW Post 4055 in Platte City, MO where he was active in the Color Guard and Funeral Honors Guard, the American Legion, and the NRA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 46 years, Annie Carolyn Johnson Shaw, in 2017. He is survived by brothers Michael J.C. Shaw of New Haven, MO, and John Richard Shaw of Boston, MA; cousins Sarah Gardner of Oklahoma City, OK, Mary Nell Stamatis of Springfield, MO, Samual Parrot of Oklahoma, Ok, Melonie Cannon of OK, and Melinda of VA.
A visitation will be held 10-11 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2025; followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service at Rollins Funeral Home in Platte City, MO. Interment will follow at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA at a later date.
