Air Vice Marshal Loreto Pestana Pereira (3705) was commissioned in the Logistics Branch of the Air Force in 1945. The Officer graduated from the Defence Services Staff College in 1959. As a member of the Maintenance Planning Teams and as Deputy Air Adviser at High Commission for India in London he effectively provided

the required spares support to the existing and newly inducted aircraft. One of the pioneers in management training in the Air Force, he helped build up the Institute of Defence Management in its early formative years and then functioned, with distinction, as Director of the Defence Institute of Work Study.

Air Vice Marshal Pereira has been responsible for successful logistics planning connected with induction of new weapon systems. His able and inspiring guidance has helped sustain a high serviceability rate of trainer aircraft despite the ageing of the HT-2 aircraft. In field of Logistics Management, he not only introduced major improvements in the 'on-going' schemes but has effectively put to use exceptional conceptual and innovative skills in evolving new and better supply organisation and procedures. The most notable of these changes are revision of maximum potential establishment for strategic items; direct supply and return of rotables between the repair agencies and operational units; introduction of automatic replenishment of airmen's clothings and streamlining provisioning and purchase procedures.

Air Vice Marshal Loreto Pestana Pereira has thus shown outstanding qualities of leadership, conceptual ability and professional competence. With a spirit of dedication and exemplary sense of duty he has rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Loreto Pestana Pereira has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.