IAF's 1965 war hero Air Marshal Denzil Keelor dies at 91

New Delhi, August 28

Air Marshal Denzil Keelor, a renowned Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot and 1965 war hero, has passed away at the age of 91 due to natural causes. He was living in Gurugram after his retirement.

Air Marshal Keelor gained fame for shooting down a Pakistani Air Force F-86 Sabre jet on September 19, 1965, while flying a Gnat aircraft, despite the enemy plane’s superior capabilities. He was awarded the Vir Chakra, the third-highest war-time gallantry award, for his heroic actions.

In 1978, he received the Kirti Chakra, the second-highest peacetime gallantry award. His bravery was documented in SN Prasad’s book, ‘The India-Pakistan War of 1965’, which highlights IAF’s heroic efforts despite being technologically inferior.

Interestingly, Air Marshal Keelor’s older brother, Wing Commander Trevor Keelor, was the first Indian pilot to “shoot down an enemy plane in mid-air” and was also awarded the Vir Chakra. A plaque at the Lucknow railway station honours the Keelor brothers, who grew up in Lucknow.