Denzil Keelor


Denzil Keelor PVSM, KC, AVSM, VrC is a retired air officer of the Indian Air Force and a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. 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.

Early Life

Keelor was born on 7 December 1933 to Elizabeth and Charles Keelor in Lucknow. He attended the La Martiniere 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:
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, the premier training establishment of the Indian Air Force which trains the best fighter pilots in aerial combat.

Kirti Chakra

The citation for the Kirti Chakra reads as follows:
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.
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.

Awards and Decorations