Indra Lal Roy
Encyclopedia
Indra Lal Roy DFC
(2 December 1898 – 22 July 1918) was the first Indian flying ace
. He served in the First World War
with the Royal Flying Corps
and its successor, the Royal Air Force
. He claimed 5 aircraft destroyed (including 1 shared), and 5 'down out of control' wins (including another shared) in just over 170 hours flying time.
The son of Bengali
parents - P. L. and Lolita Roy - he was born in Calcutta. When World War I broke out, Roy was attending St Paul's School, Hammersmith in London, England.
Five months after turning 18, in April 1917 he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
on 5 July 1917. After training and gunnery practise at Vendôme
and Turnberry
, he joined No. 56 Squadron on 30 October 1917. Roy was part of "A" Flight, commanded by flying ace Captain Richard Maybery
.
Two months later, Roy was injured after he crash-landed his S.E.5a
fighter on 6 December 1917. While recovering, Roy made numerous sketches of aircraft — many of which still exist. Though concerns were raised that he was medically unfit, Roy was successful in returning to duty after he completed his period of recuperation. Subsequently he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant
. He was transferred to Captain George McElroy
's flight in No. 40 Squadron in June 1918.
On his return to active service Roy achieved 10 victories (two shared) in thirteen days. His first victory was a Hannover over Drocourt
on 6 July 1918. This was followed by three victories in the space of 4 hours on 8 July 1918 (two Hannover Cs and a Fokker D.VII
); two on 13 July 1918 (a Hannover C and Pfalz D.III
); two on 15 July 1918 (two Fokker D.VIIs); and one on 18 July 1918 (a DFW C.V
). Roy's final victory came the following day when he shot down a Hannover C over Cagnicourt
. He was thus first and only Indian flying air ace to this day.
He was killed over Carvin
on 22 July 1918 in a dog fight with Fokker D.VII
s of Jasta 29. Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in September 1918 for his actions during the period of 6–19 July 1918. He is buried at Estevelles
Communal Cemetery.
His nephew Subroto Mukerjee
too was a fighter pilot who later became the first Indian Chief of Air staff of the Indian Air Force.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(2 December 1898 – 22 July 1918) was the first Indian flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He served in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
with the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and its successor, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He claimed 5 aircraft destroyed (including 1 shared), and 5 'down out of control' wins (including another shared) in just over 170 hours flying time.
The son of Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
parents - P. L. and Lolita Roy - he was born in Calcutta. When World War I broke out, Roy was attending St Paul's School, Hammersmith in London, England.
Five months after turning 18, in April 1917 he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 5 July 1917. After training and gunnery practise at Vendôme
Vendôme
Vendôme is a commune in the Centre region of France.-Administration:Vendôme is the capital of the arrondissement of Vendôme in the Loir-et-Cher department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. It has a tribunal of first instance.-Geography:...
and Turnberry
Turnberry
Turnberry is a golf resort on the coast of the outer Firth of Clyde in southwestern Scotland. Located in South Ayrshire on the rugged coast, it comprises three links golf courses, a golf academy, a five-star hotel, designed by James Miller and completed in 1906, as well as lodge and cottage...
, he joined No. 56 Squadron on 30 October 1917. Roy was part of "A" Flight, commanded by flying ace Captain Richard Maybery
Richard Maybery
Captain Richard Aveline Maybery MC and Bar was a Welsh World War I flying ace.Maybery was born in Brecon, Powys, Wales in January 1895, the only son of Aveline Maybery, a solicitor, and his wife Lucy...
.
Two months later, Roy was injured after he crash-landed his S.E.5a
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
fighter on 6 December 1917. While recovering, Roy made numerous sketches of aircraft — many of which still exist. Though concerns were raised that he was medically unfit, Roy was successful in returning to duty after he completed his period of recuperation. Subsequently he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. He was transferred to Captain George McElroy
George McElroy
Captain George Edward Henry McElroy MC and Two Bars, DFC and Bar was a leading ace fighter pilot of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during World War I. He was credited with 47 aerial victories....
's flight in No. 40 Squadron in June 1918.
On his return to active service Roy achieved 10 victories (two shared) in thirteen days. His first victory was a Hannover over Drocourt
Drocourt
Drocourt is the name of several communes in France:*Drocourt, Pas-de-Calais*Drocourt, Yvelines...
on 6 July 1918. This was followed by three victories in the space of 4 hours on 8 July 1918 (two Hannover Cs and a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
); two on 13 July 1918 (a Hannover C and Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
); two on 15 July 1918 (two Fokker D.VIIs); and one on 18 July 1918 (a DFW C.V
DFW C.V
-External Links:*...
). Roy's final victory came the following day when he shot down a Hannover C over Cagnicourt
Cagnicourt
Cagnicourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais département in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village located 11 miles southeast of Arras at the junction of the D13 with the D14E.-Population:...
. He was thus first and only Indian flying air ace to this day.
He was killed over Carvin
Carvin
This article refers to a French commune. For the guitar manufacturer see Carvin Corporation. For the late New Orleans political consultant see Jim Carvin.Carvin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France....
on 22 July 1918 in a dog fight with Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s of Jasta 29. Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in September 1918 for his actions during the period of 6–19 July 1918. He is buried at Estevelles
Estevelles
Estevelles is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated some northeast of Lens, near the junction of the D164e and the D917...
Communal Cemetery.
His nephew Subroto Mukerjee
Subroto Mukerjee
Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, OBE was the first Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force . Born in a Bengali family of repute, he was educated in India as well as England. He joined the Royal Air Force and later was one of the first recruits of the Indian Air Force...
too was a fighter pilot who later became the first Indian Chief of Air staff of the Indian Air Force.