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the story of flight: as told by the indian stamps yv jeppu |
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the story of flight: as told by the indian stamps yv jeppu |
| World
War |
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On August 14, 1914 a French Voisin dropped bombs on a German Zepplin hangar. British aircraft soon followed after three months with similar attacks. The science fiction writer HG Wells had predicted that death would come from the sky with the invention of the airplane. This prediction was to come true with World War I. One brave Indian pilot to lose his life in this war was 2nd Lt. Indra Lal Roy, DFC. This nineteen year old shot down 10 enemy planes (Five Hannover C, three Fokker D. VII, one Pfalz D.III and one DFW.C) between 6th of July and 19th of July 1918. He was killed on the morning of July 22, 1918 as his plane went down in flames over Carvin during a dogfight. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on September 21, 1918. The citation read "A very gallant and determined young officer, who in 13 days accounted for nine enemy machines. In these several engagements he has displayed remarkable skill and daring, on more than one occasion accounting for two machines in one patrol." India paid tribute to this young hero with a stamp issued on December 19, 1998. |
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Kannada Philatelic Association
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