Indra Lal Roy, is the sole Indian World War I flying ace. He is designated as First Indian Fighter Aircraft Pilot. While serving in the Royal Flying Corps and its successor, the Royal Air Force, he claimed ten aerial victories; five aircraft destroyed, and five 'down out of control' in just over 170 hours flying time.
Family background
The second son of Piera Lal Roy and Lolita Roy, he was born in Calcutta, where his father was a barrister and Director of Public Prosecutions. He was nicknamed "Laddie". Roy came from a highly qualified and distinguished family. The Roy family is a Bengali family originally from the Barisal district in present-day Bangladesh. Prior to India's partition, the Roy family was a prominent Zamindar family of East Bengal. The Roy family estate is known as Lakhutia. The Lakhutia Zamindar estate was founded by Roop Chandra Roy in the late 17th century. His older brother, Paresh Lal Roy, served in the 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company, and later became known as the "father of Indian boxing." His maternal grandfather, Dr. Surya Kumar Goodeve Chakraborty, was one of the first Indian doctors to be trained in Western medicine. His nephew, Subroto Mukerjee, served as a fighter pilot in World War II, and later became the first Indian Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.
When the First World War broke out, Roy was attending St Paul's School, Hammersmith in London, England. Initially rejected by the Royal Flying Corps on the grounds of poor eyesight, Roy paid for a second opinion from a leading eye specialist, and the decision was overturned. Five months after turning 18, on 4 April 1917 he joined the RFC, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 5 July. After training and gunnery practice at Vendôme and Turnberry, he joined No. 56 Squadron on 30 October. Roy was part of "A" Flight, commanded by Captain Richard Maybery. Two months later, Roy was injured after he crash-landed his S.E.5a fighter on 6 December. While recovering, Roy made numerous sketches of aircraft — many of which survive. In May he returned to duty as an equipment officer and within a few weeks was passed as medically fit to fly. He was transferred to Captain George McElroy's flight in No. 40 Squadron in June 1918. On his return to active service, Roy achieved ten victories in thirteen days. His first was a Hannover over Drocourt on 6 July. This was followed by three victories in the space of four hours on 8 July ; two on 13 July ; two on 15 July ; and one on 18 July. Roy's final victory came the following day when he shot down a Hannover C over Cagnicourt. He is believed to be the first and only Indian flying ace of the First World War. Roy was killed over Carvin on 22 July 1918 in a dog fight against the Fokker D.VIIs of Jagdstaffel 29. He is buried at Estevelles Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in September 1918 for his actions during the period of 6–19 July 1918. He was the first Indian to receive the DFC. His citation read: Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France In December 1998, to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Indian postal service issued a commemorative stamp in his honour.
