Denis La Fontaine

Who is Denis La Fontaine?

Air Chief Marshall Denis Anthony La Fontaine was the Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force from 3 July 1985 to 31 July 1988. Born in Madras, La Fontaine did his schooling in Lahore and Mussoorie, joining the fledgling Indian Air Force in October 1947. La Fontaine was commissioned into the flying branch in 1950 and became one of India's first jet fighter pilots flying Vampires. Besides the Vampire, La Fontaine flew Tigermoths, Tempests, Spitfires, Toofanis and Hunters, and later on the Mig 29 and Mirage 2000 which were inducted while he was the Chief. He went on to command the prestigious Western Air Command and became the 13th Air Chief on the sudden demise of Air Chief Marshall Lakshman Mohan Katre. La Fontaine was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal during his long service.

After his tenure, La Fontaine lived a retired life in Brahmanapalli village in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh where he died on 6 April 2011.