New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday, October 25, celebrated the 104th birthday of Wing Commander Cecil Barretto (Retd), honouring a military career spanning World War II, the 1947-48 Kashmir War and the formative years of the Air Force's Dental Branch.

At 104, Barretto, a recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), represents a remarkable chapter in India's military history.

Having begun his career in the Army Dental Corps in February 1945, he went on to become one of the two pioneering officers who helped establish the IAF's Dental Branch in 1956.

On October 25, 2026, a team from the Airmen Training School (ATS), Belagavi, accompanied by Air Vice Marshal SJ Nanodkar (Retd), president of the Air Force Association...