Sabre Killers- Keelor Brothers

It was immediately after the 20 day war with Pakistan in 1965, I saw a documentary film from
Film Division which has been etched in my memory. The narrator said “Watch that Pak Sabre
plane flying over Indian territory and Ghat flown by Squardon Leader Keelor chasing it. Soon
Gnat fired a missile and it hit Pak plane and the Sabre was shown hitting ground and going in
flames. Though Keelor brothers did not get highest military honors but they had became
household names during the 1965 war for their daring air raids deep into Pakistani territory as
pilots of the small Indian Air Force Gnats. In this article I have collected information about these
two brothers from internet including Bharat Rakshak.

Air chief Marshal Arjan Singh said in an interview “Gnats were very small aircraft, difficult to spot
on the radar. As you know radar beams hit the metal of the aircraft and on return gives the blip.
The smaller the aircraft,smaller the blip. So Gnats became famous. Even the radar controller
would take time to decide if it is a fighter aircraft. We found Gnats very maneuverable. For
fighters the most important thing is turning in a circle. If you turn faster your attack is safe. This
aircraft had a small turning circle. But it was giving us lots of technical problems.

We lost many test pilots in accidents involving Gnats. We didn't have much confidence till one of
the Keelor brothers shot from the aircraft in the Chamb-Jaurian area. They both fought very well
and both got the Veer Chakra.

Once one of the brothers shot down a superior Pakistani aircraft, our people got tremendous
confidence. Then everybody wanted to fight using Gnats. “

Gnat was a much smaller aircraft as compared with Sabre. Specifications of two are indicated
below for comparison:

Manufacturer: Folland Aircraft (later, Hawker Siddeley)

Designation: FO-141
Nickname: Gnat
Type: Fighter
Specifications
Length: 29' 9''
Height: 8' 9''
Wingspan: 22' 2''
Gross Weight: 6,650 to 8,885 lbs.
Propulsion
No. of Engines: 1
Power plant: Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 701 turbojet
Pounds of static thrust (each): 4,520
Performance
Range: 500 miles (1 hour 30 min)
Max Speed: 695 mph (Mach 0.98)

Designed in a private venture by Folland Aircraft, Ltd. in the United Kingdom, designers wanted
to see just how small they could make an aircraft, yet still be effective. Intended for sale as an
export, India, Yugoslavia and Finland purchased Gnats. India liked the aircraft so much, that the
Bangalore Division of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. continued construction and Gnats were flown
very successfully by the Indian Air Force. The little plane carried only 240 gallons of fuel
internally and 60 gallons in two underwing jettisionable tanks.

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Sabre Specifications

Specifications: orth American F-86F-30

Dimensions:
Wing span: 39 ft 1 in (11.91 m)
Length: 37 ft 0 in (11.27 m)
Height: 14 ft 0 in (4.26 m)
Wing Area: 288 sq ft (26.75 sq m)
Weights:
Empty: 10,815 lb (4,906 kg)
Gross T/O: 17,772 lb (8,061 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 688 mph (1,107 km/h) @ sea level.
Service Ceiling: 48,000 ft (14,630 m)
Cruising Speed: 513 mph (826 km/h)
Normal Range: 463 miles (745 km)
Maximum Range: 1,317 miles (2,120 km)
Powerplant:
Single J47-GE-27 (no afterburner) rated @ 5,910 lbs (2,708 kg) thrust
Armament:
Six .50 caliber M-3 machine guns - 265 rpg.
2,000 lb (907 kg) bombs or 16 x .5 in rockets.

In its 50 years of independence issue in 1997,India Today listed film star Nargis , Everest hero
Tenzing Norgay and also in the top-gun bravado of the Keelor brothers, Denzil and Trevor, aces
in wars with Pakistan as post-Independence heroes.

Wg Cdr(Retd) Trevor Joseph Keelor, Vr.C, VM

Sqn.Ldr.Treevor Jospeh Keelor Veer Chakra Vayu Medal

Got his first combat kill on 3rd Sept 1965

(Photo courtesy IAF museum)

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 Born on December 8, 1934, in Lucknow, Trevor Joseph Keelor had studied in St Francis’ High
School, Lucknow, St Georges College, Mussorie, and La Martiniere College, Lucknow, before
joining the Indian Air Force in 1953. Trevor retired from his service in 1978 .Trevor Joseph
Keelor passed away on April 27, 2002.

CITATION
Vayu Sena Medal

On the 5th February 1964, Flt Lt Keelor was detailed to ferry a Gnat from Poona to Palam in a
formation of five aircraft. The last part of the flight had to be undertaken at a height of 41,000
feet. While descending to land at Palam, he discovered, at a height of 15,000 feet that there
was no response from the engine to the throttle movements. After informing the leader, Flt Lt
Kellor immediately broke off the formation and attempted a landing at Palam, knowing fully well
that previous attempts to force land a Gnat had resulted in fatal or serious injury to the pilot.
With great presence of mind and careful handling, he accomplished the forced landing
successfully without any damage to the aircraft. Flt Lt Trevor Kellor displayed courage,
presence of mind and a high standard of professional skill in the best traditions of the Indian Air
Force

Veer Chakra

On 3rd September 1965, on receipt of a report that a formation of Pakistani fighters were
circling over our Army position in the Chhamb Sector of J&K, a formation of Gnat aircraft was
ordered to intercept the intruders.

Approaching the area, Sq Ldr Trevor Keelor, who was a section leader in the Gnat formation,
sighted enemy F-86 Sabre jets and engaged them in air battle. When the combat was in
progress, F-104 Starfighters of the Pakistani Air Force also joined in.

Unmindful of the numerical superiority of the enemy, Sq Ldr Keelor chased a Sabre jet and
pressed home his attack until the enemy aircraft caught fire and disintegrated in the air. This
was the first victory of our Air Force in the air battles against the Pakistani Air Force.

In this operation, Sqn Ldr Keelor displayed courage and leadership of a high order in the best
traditions of the Air Force.

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 Air Marshal (Retd) Denzil Joseph Keelor, AVSM, KC, VSM, Vr.C

Sqn.Ldr.Denzil Keelor
Veer Chakra the elder
Keelor shot Pak Sabre on
19th Sept 1965

(Photo courtesy IAF

museum)

Air Marshal(Red) Denzil Keelor was born on 7th Dec 1933 and studied in La Martinier college
Lucknow.He joined IAF on 6th Nov 1954.He had very eventful career and was honored with
Veer Chakra,Visisth Sewa Medal,Keerti Chakra and Ati Visisht Sewa Medal. He rose to the rank
of Air Marshal. He retired from service on in 1991He worked as President of YMCA for 10 years.
He continues to be actively involved with a number of activities and presently is chairman of
Special Olympics Bharat.

CITATION
PARAM VISHIST SEWA MEDAL

Awarded on 26th Jan 1989 (Citation not available)

ATI VISHIST SEWA MEDAL

Awarded on 26th Jan 1986(Citation not available)

KIRTI CHAKRA

Gp. Capt. Keelor who had rich and wide combat experience and the destruction of a Sabre
aircraft to his credit, was flying a MiG-21 U trainer on 27 Mar 78, when due to structural failure
the canopy of the aircraft detached and flew off. Gp Capt Keelor felt sudden decompression and
loss of control, but managed to fly back to base and execute a safe emergency landing without
the canopy. Later on 17 May 78, during firing trials one of the 23 mm Cannon Shells exploded
causing extensive damage and total electrical failure to his aircraft. He successfully executed
another safe landing back at his airbase.

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VEER CHAKRA

On 19th September 1965, Sqn Ldr Denzil Keelor was providing fighter escort to Mystere aircraft
during a strike mission in the operations against Pakistan. His section of four Gnat aircraft was
engaged by four enemy Sabre jet aircraft and the battle was fought at a height of less than
2,000 feet from the ground where enemy anti-aircraft guns were also active.

Under his guidance, his subsection leader shot down a Sabre jet aircraft. Thereafter Sqn Ldr
Keelor himself engaged another Sabre jet and crippled it. Throughout the operations, Sqn Ldr
Keelor was a source of inspiration to his pilots and ground personnel. His courage and devotion
to duty were in the best traditions of the Air Force. For this he was awarded the Vir Chakra.

The Sabre kill by Denzil earned the Keelor family a unique distinction. Both the brothers now
had Sabres to their credit and both earned the Veer Chakra, making it the first time brothers had
won the Veer Chakra for identical feats.

Ramesh Lalwani
7.6.2006