Sqn.Ldr.Denzil Keelor opens up on his 1965 fight with Pakistan Airforce's Sabre jets
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Sqn.Ldr.Denzil Keelor opens up on his 1965 fight with Pakistan Airforce's Sabre jetsBy Kaveri Varma
New Delhi: As Indian govt is all set to kick off a massive show on
September 20 on Rajpath as a part of ongoing month-long commemoration of the forgotten war of 1965 between two of the most most popular neighboring nations of the world-India and Pak, we bring to you a real story straight from the mouth of war hero. Retired Air marshal of Indian Air Force Denzil Keelor and his younger brother Trevor Keelor (1934-2002) were two of the innumerable brave fighters that fought the historic war. Sqn.Ldr.Denzil Joseph Keelor bagged VrC,PVSM,RVSM,KrC for 1965 warDenzil Keelor, retired in 1991 has been honoured with a number of medals including the Veer Chakra, the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Keerti Chakra and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. Denzil is presently the chairman of Special Olympics Bharat.
Both the brothers had Sabres as well as Veer Chakra to their credit, making it the first time brothers had won the award for identical feats. What are Gnats and Sabre jets?
Gnats are single seater, supersonic jet fighter difficult to spot on the radar so much so that even the radar controller would take time to decide if it is a fighter aircraft. So Gnats became famous as they were maneuverable.
Gnat aircraft (Source: bharat-rakshak.com)Sabre jet of Pakistan Air ForceSharing the experience, Keelor narrates how he shot down 2 Sabre Jets of PAF: On 19th September 1965, Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor was ordered to fly fighter cover to a large formation of heavily armed Mystere aircraft, on a mission to attack Pakistan armored columns in the Charwinda Sector of Pakistan.
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The target was heavily defended by F-86 Sabre Jets of the Pakistan Air Force and anti aircraft guns. Leading a section of four Gnats, Denzil Keelor escorted the Mystere Strike Force to the targets.
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As the strike force approached the target, Keelor spotted two sections of F-86 Sabre Jets, one pair attacking Indian army armored forces and the second pair was orbiting on top providing top cover to their aircraft. Keelor immediately engaged the F-86 Sabre Jets. This cleared the way for the strike force to attack Pakistan armored formations on the ground, after which his subsection leader shot down two Pakistan Sabre Jets. Short of fuel and ammunition, he was forced to disengage from the fight.It was the time when he put his wife and two sons on the train to Lucknow bidding them goodbye in a great hustle as it was the need of the hour, reflected Denzil.
While talking to ABP News Denzil Keelor says, "We had positioned ourselves behind the Mystere Formation and spread out in battle formation. We were flying at 100 feet AGL and 400 knots. As we approached the target area we could see smoke and dust covering the area was high. Then we saw a large formation of tanks moving west to east. I called to JP that the target was straight ahead and he confirmed contact."
Reminiscing events he continued, "Soon after that, I spotted two Sabres at about 2000 feet, turning left and two more carrying out attacks on our ground forces. I called Kapila and told him to take on the two aircraft high up to the right and I will take on the two aircraft to the left. I turned left and started gaining height to get on top of the two Sabres. Soon after that, I saw the two Sabres jettisoning their drop tanks and I knew that they had seen me."
"I was alone a bit later so decided to keep my speed high. While the Sabres were turning desperately and keeping low, I kept descending on to them at high speed. Then I started seeing puffs of smoke in the air and soon realised that this was flak, coming from the Pakistan armoured formation below us. As we were turning, I could see Kaps at times chasing a Sabre and then the Sabre in front of him starting to emit smoke, turn sharply and hit the ground", he added.
Evoking the victory he says, "In the mean time I was trying to get behind the two sabres fighting with me. At this point I observed the Sabre below me roll out and turn left and right, looking for me. He had lost sight of me and I thought this was my chance and dived down onto him, closed in I fired three bursts. When I pulled up after the attack, I could see fuel leaking from the Sabre. It was later confirmed that the Sabre damaged by me never made it back to base and the pilot bailed out."
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Summing up his valor he adds, " After joining up, I noticed that Kapila’s No 2, Mayadev, was missing. We called him on the R/T but there was no response. Our ATC confirmed that only Munna Rai had landed back safely. Later in the evening, Pakistan radio announced that a Gnat aircraft of the IAF had been shot down in a fierce air battle near Charminda and the pilot, Mayadev, was captured. He returned to India along few months later".
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On returning to base he found that his left tyre had deflated. He managed to control the aircraft and bring it to a halt in the left lane of the runway and ejected with a spinal injury. However the runway was declared blocked and Kapila was diverted to Halwara where he landed safely.
According to the reports, India believes Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat. It lost 97 tanks -- including 72 Pattons; 32 tanks were captured in running condition -- some of them were kept as war trophies by the victor regiments and India lost only 5 tanks whereas Pak thinks vice-versa.
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