Template:Infobox military person
Air Marshal Denzil Keelor PVSM, KC, AVSM, VrC (born 7 December 1933) is a retired air officer of the Indian Air Force and a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.[1] He had a younger brother Trevor, who was also honoured for his service in the Indian Air Force. The brothers were both awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down Pakistan Air Force Sabres.[1]
Early life
Keelor was born on 7 December 1933 to Elizabeth and Charles Keelor in Lucknow. He attended St. Francis’ College, Lucknow.
Military career
Keelor was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 6 November 1954. He scored a kill during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
Vir Chakra
Denzil Keelor's first award was the Vir Chakra in 1965. The citation for the Vir Chakra reads as follows:[2][3] Template:Quotation
Keelor took command of the 4 Squadron in early January 1973. The squadron was based out of Tezpur Air Force Station. In 1977, he took over as the Commandant of the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), the premier training establishment of the Indian Air Force which trains the best fighter pilots in aerial combat.[4]
Kirti Chakra
The citation for the Kirti Chakra reads as follows:[4] Template:Quotation
From 1980 to 1982, Keelor served as the air attaché at the Embassy of India in Paris, France, in the rank of air commodore. He later took over command of the Maharajpur Air Force Station as air officer commanding. Keelor was awarded with the Ati Vishist Seva Medal on 26 January 1986 and the Param Vishist Seva Medal on 26 Jan 1989.[5]
He retired in 1991. Following his retirement he worked as the president of the YMCA for ten years. He was the chairman of Special Olympics Bharat.[6]
Awards and decorations
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sabre Killers- Keelor Brothers Denzil Keelor at Mangalorean.com Template:Webarchive accessed June 2007
- ↑ SQUADRON LEADER DENZIL KEELOR | Gallantry Awards. gallantryawards.gov.in.
- ↑ Vir Chakra (VrC), Awardee: Air Mrshl Denzil Keelor, PVSM, KC, AVSM, VrC, VM @ TWDI. twdi.in.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Service Record for Air Marshal Denzil Joseph Keelor 4805 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com. Bharat Rakshak.
- ↑ 'Sabre Killers – Keelor Brothers' from Old Martinians' UK Template:Webarchive accessed July 2007
- ↑ Special Olympics Bharat.