Air Marshal Denzil Keelor PVSM, KC, AVSM, VrC was an air officer of the Indian Air Force and a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
14 Facts About Denzil Keelor
1.
2.
Denzil Keelor had a younger brother Trevor, who was honoured for his service in the Indian Air Force.
3.
Keelor was born in Lucknow on 7 December 1933, to Charles and Isabel Grace Keelor and was a sibling of Gordon, Trevor, Cynthia, and Marie Viegas Jones.
4.
Denzil Keelor attended St Francis' College in Lucknow, before studying at St George's College in Mussoorie.
5.
Denzil Keelor was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 6 November 1954.
6.
Denzil Keelor scored a kill during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
7.
Thereafter Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor himself engaged another Sabre Jet and crippled it.
8.
Denzil Keelor took command of the 4 Squadron in early January 1973.
9.
Group Captain Denzil Keelor thus displayed conspicuous courage, exemplary professional skill and devotion to duty of an exceptional order.
10.
Gp Capt Denzil Keelor felt sudden decompression and loss of control, but managed to fly back to base and execute a safe emergency landing without the canopy.
11.
Denzil Keelor successfully executed another safe landing back at his airbase.
12.
From 1980 to 1982, Denzil Keelor served as the air attache at the Embassy of India in Paris, France, in the rank of air commodore.
13.
Denzil Keelor later took over command of the Maharajpur Air Force Station as air officer commanding.
14.
Denzil Keelor was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal on 26 January 1986 and the Param Vishist Seva Medal on 26 January 1989.