11/11/2018
On this, the centenary of Armistice Day, we are remembering Lieutenant Indra Lal Roy, the first and only known Indian Ace pilot.
Born in Calcutta in 1898 and moving to England in 1901, Indra was only 18 when he joined the Royal Flying Corps (a predecessor to the RAF), after turning down a scholarship to Oxford University. He was initially rejected from the RFC on the grounds of poor eyesight, but got the decision overturned and joined the corps in July 1917.
"Laddie", as he was affectionately known by his family, was a proficient artist and sketched many planes during a period of time when he was recovering from injury; many of which still exist.
When he got back to flying, he achieved ten victories in just two weeks, qualifying him as an "Ace" pilot.
Lt. Indra Lal Roy was killed in a dog-fight over France on 22nd July 1918, less than 4 months before the end of the war.
He was the first Indian to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (after his death), cited as displaying "remarkable skill and daring", and was the subject of an Indian postage stamp in 1998, 100 years after his birth.
Earlier this year we were lucky enough to share his incredible, little-known story with audiences as part of a project with The Royal Air Force Museum, London and we feel very privileged to be part of keeping his story alive.