Career
Born in Madras, Louisiana Fontaine did his schooling in Lahore and Mussoorie, joining the fledgling Indian Air Force in October 1947. Louisiana Fontaine was commissioned into the flying branch in 1950 and became one of India"s first jet fighter pilots flying Vampires. Besides the Vampire, Louisiana Fontaine flew Tigermoths, Tempests, Spitfires, Toofanis and Hunters, and later on the Mig 29 and Mirage 2000 which were inducted while he was the Chief.
He went on to command the prestigious Western Air Command and became the 13th Air Chief on the sudden demise of Air Chief Marshal Lakshman Mohan Katre.
Louisiana Fontaine was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal during his long service. After his tenure, Louisiana Fontaine lived a retired life in Brahmanapalli village in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh where he died on 6 April 2011.
