Fwd: Illustrious Vincentian - Grp.Cpt. Donald Lazarus
Agnelo D'Souza
From: VOBA Google Group B <raymond...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 12, 2016 at 10:04 AM
Subject: Illustrious Vincentian - Grp.Cpt. Donald Lazarus
To: VOBA Google Group B <bv...@googlegroups.com>
From: Anil
Gonsalves <anilgo...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2016 14:36:56 +0000
Subject: Re: Illustrious Vincentian -
Grp.Cpt. Donald Lazarus
Hi Firdosh
I was one year ahead of you with Raymond's elder brother Michael in the batch
of 74.
I have again recollection of you.
So did you join through NDA or direct like Mark Pillay did.
I joined the 54th
Course in NDA and then the Indian Navy.
Vincenti Dabitur to you
Captain Anil Gonsalves (Retd)
On Monday, April 11, 2016 at 7:01:53 PM UTC+5:30, VOBA Google Group B wrote:
Col. Firdosh Mehta is my classmate.I only now come to know that, hearing of Group Capt. Donald Lazarus' heroic feat in the 1971 war with Pakistan, did Firdosh take the momentous decision to join the Indian Army.Raymond Rebello(Batch of 1975)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: firdosh mehta <ferdy...@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, Apr 10, 2016 at 10:43 PM
Subject: Re: [avoba] Illustrious Vincentian - Grp.Cpt. Donald Lazarus
Hi Raymond,
We were in the 8th Std (1972) when Donald Lazarus had come to the morning prayer assembly & spoken from the balcony on top addressing all of us.
Dats the day I had taken my decision what I am going to be ! He was my inspiration.
We had an essay in 8th " WHAT WILL I BECOME " it was discussed on in the Parent Teachers meeting & my folks were perturbed as to why does he want to join the Defence Forces. We have no one from our family. Teachers said don't worry all children get impressed by aeroplanes, tanks , guns etc its a passing phase, once they grow up & see the world all these dreams get reshaped --- BUT I stuck to my Decision & followed to live with the GUN ! --- Thanks to Lazarus I spent 35 Glorious yrs serving my motherland in our G8 INDIAN ARMY !
Do send this mail to him plz.
Plz fwd his E-mail & Mob No if available
Col.Firdosh Mehta (Retd)
Vincentian, VOBA member from batch of 1975)
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Agnelo D'Souza
From: Raymond Rebello <raymond...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Apr 10, 2016 at 4:31 PM
Subject: Illustrious Vincentian - Grp.Cpt. Donald Lazarus
Donald Lazarus studied in St.Vincent’s School, Pune. A keen sportsman like his brother Theo Lazarus.
Born on 1st Aug 1946, Don was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 29th Oct 1996 at tender age of 20 years.
During the operations against Pakistan, Flg Offr. Don Lazarus was serving with a fighter squadron.
On 22 November 1971, he was No. 4 in a formation of four Folland Gnats, which was ordered to intercept four hostile Pakistani Air Force Sabre jets, which had intruded into Indian air space. The formation leader maneuvered the formation to an advantageous position and engaged the intruding Sabres fighter jets. In the ensuing battle Flg Offr. Lazarus maintained his station as No. 4 ensuring the safety of his leader. At one stage, when Flg Offr. Lazarus noticed that one of the Sabres was becoming a threat to his leader, he maneuvered his aircraft with great skill, got behind it and pressed home his attack till the Sabre disintegrated in Midair.
This action (Battle of Boyra) which took place in front of thousands of people became one of the most enduring moments of the Bangladesh Liberation War and made all four Indian Pilots instant celebrities in India and Bangladesh overnight. Their pictures with those of the flaming Sabre jets and those of the PAF P.O.W's being widely circulated by the media the world over.
This engagement marked the first time in 6 years that aircraft were shot down in air combat in the Indian Sub-continent and the state of increased hostilities in the region which culminated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and the creation of the Country of Bangladesh less than a month later.
Don Lazarus had a distinguished career. After his stint at command he was promoted to Group Captain in command of a Station. It is said that Donald Lazarus was destined for higher command, but he ‘chucked it all in' and opted for premature retirement -- a decision that left many of his colleagues shocked. His reasons for the retirement were different, He has had his career and done his service to the nation, now he was answering the call of God. After retirement he settled down in his native Conoor area working for the Christian Mission Service, an organization with its HQ in the Nilgiris which cares for destitute and orphaned children.
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rajesh
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krishna kuchimanchi
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