SANGAREDDY: Former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal (retd) Denis Anthony Lafontaine (82) died of cardiac arrest at his home in Brahmanapalli village in Toopran mandal in the district today. He was survived by wife and three daughers.
Lafontaine headed the Indian Air Force(IAF) for three years from July 1985. Lafontaine was born in Chennai on September 17, 1929. His grandfather as well as his father had served in the Indian Army.
He joined IAF as a fighter pilot in 1950 and rose in to become its 13th Chief in July 1985.Lafontaine was a fighter pilot and played a key role in 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars.
He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VSM), Ati-Vishisht Seval Medal and Param-Vishisht Seva Medal during his illustrious career. Lafontaine had been staying at his home near Brahmanapalli village in Medak district since his retirement. Medak district Collector S Suresh Kumar laid a wreath on Lafontaine’s body on behalf of the state government and paid homage.