By IANS,
Hyderabad : Former chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Denis Anthony Lafontaine, died of cardiac arrest Wednesday at his home in Andhra Pradesh’s Medak district. He was 82.
The retired air chief marshal, who participated in India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, served as the IAF chief between 1985-88.
He was cremated near his farm house in Brahmanapalli village Wednesday evening. Earlier, Medak district collector Suresh Kumar laid the wreath on behalf of the state government.
Born in Chennai September 17, 1929, Lafontaine joined the air force as a fighter pilot in 1947 and rose to become its 13th chief in July 1985 following the sudden death of then Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre.
Lafontaine was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command at that time.
He was a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VSM) for distinguished service.
After the retirement, he had settled down in Brahmanapally Village.