Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke, a 1965 Indo-Pak War hero, a valiant fighter pilot, and a Vir Chakra awardee, who studied at Lucknow’s La Martiniere College, died on Friday at the Base Hospital in New Delhi.
Flt Lt Cooke had been suffering from terminal stages of prostate cancer. Alfred Tyrone Cooke came from a middle class, Anglo-Indian family and chose to defend the country through selfless service. The two pilots held off a force three times their size, an action that influenced the subsequent course of the war, particularly in the eastern theatre, the citation read. “Our prayers and heartfelt condolences are with his family in this hour of grief. May they find strength and solace in the memories they shared with him.
He studied at La Martiniere College, Lucknow from 1950 to 1958 as a resident scholar of Lyons House. He completed his schooling and joined the Indian Air Force in 1961. The 200-year-old La Martiniere College, Lucknow has an innate relationship with gallantry. In 2015, fifty years after the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, the college honoured him and other ex-students who fought to protect the borders of the country. The college condoled his death: “It is with deep regret that we inform you of the passing of Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke, VrC, a distinguished alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow, and a war hero decorated with the Vir Chakra during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. His brother, Dr Bryan Cooke, was our chief guest on Founder’s Day 2026. The College flag shall be lowered to half-mast on September 19, 2026 as a mark of respect.”
His brother, Dr Bryan Cooke (also an alumnus and teacher of La Martiniere College) flew in from the USA to join him, said Adrian Michael, bursar, La Martiniere College.
