http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Lenthttp://www.luftwaffe.cz/lent.htmlHelmut Lent was born on 13 June 1918 at Pyrehne in the Landsberg region of Warthe/Neumark. He joined the Luftwaffe on 1 April 1936 receiving the rank of Fahnenjunker. Lent’s military training commenced on 6 April at the Luftkriegsschule at Berlin-Gatow. His training was interrupted for a five period when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in which he broke his right upper leg. On 1 April 1937, Lent was promoted to the rank of Fähnrich. He received promotion to the rank of Oberfähnrich on 19 October. From 1 March 1938, Leutnant Lent attended the Grosse Kampffliegerschule based at Tutow receiving training as an observer. He was again involved in a motor vehicle accident in late June, which resulted in a broken jaw and three weeks in hospital. On 1 July, Lent was posted to III./JG 132 based at Jüterbog-Damm. In early September 1938, Lent participated in armed patrols, flying Ar 68 fighters, in support of Germany’s occupation of the Sudetenland. On 1 November, III./JG 132 relocated to Fürstenwalde and was redesignated II./JG 141. Leutnant Lent was assigned to 6./JG 141. On 1 May 1939, II./JG 141 was redesignated I./ZG 76 and re-equipped with the Bf 110 Zerstörer twin-engine fighter. Lent participated in the attack on Poland. He destroyed several aircraft on the ground and a PZL P.24 fighter in the air on 3 September 1939 for his and I./ZG 76’s initial victory. However, on 12 September, following the destruction of an aircraft on the ground he was attacked by another fighter and his starboard engine was hit and put out of action. This necessitated a forced-landing, fortunately behind his own lines, in which he received minor injuries. On 29 September, I./ZG 76 was withdrawn to the Stuttgart area of Germany to provide Reichsverteidigung against France and Britain. On 18 December 1939, Lent, now based at Jever, took part in the Battle of the German Bight shooting down three RAF Wellington twin-engine bombers attacking German naval vessels off Wilhelmshaven.
click for full-sizeLent went on to achieve ace status during the Norwegian campaign, shooting down a Norwegian Gloster Gladiator biplane fighter for his fifth victory on 9 April 1940, while escorting paratroop carrying Ju 52 three-engine transport aircraft to Oslo. However, with his fuel running short, Lent was forced to land at Fornebu. In attempting to land, he came under fire from the ground defences, which caused his starboard engine to catch fire. With one engine of his Bf 110 C “M8 + DH” dead, Lent overshot on landing and crashed, fortunately without injury. I./ZG 76 relocated to Stavanger on 14 April. Lent was selected to operate with a Sonderstaffel, to be based at Trondheim to provide support for beleaguered German troops fighting in the Narvik area, from 18 May. On 27 May, Lent was escorting Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, attacking the radio masts at Bod?sj?en, when RAF Gladiator fighters attempted to intervene. Lent shot one down for his sixth victory. His victim was RAF ace Flight Lieutenant Caesar Hull (6.249 confirmed, 2.5 probable and 2 damaged victories, killed in action 7 September 1940) of 263 Squadron, RAF. Hull crash-landed at his airfield, wounded in the head and knee. Lent recorded four victories during his time in Norway and was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant on 1 July. In August 1940, Lent was transferred to the Nachtjagd. He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./NJG 1, based at Deelen in Holland, on 7 September 1940. Initially he could not come to terms with the different techniques required for night fighting. Eventually, after 24 missions without success, he sought an interview with Major Wolfgang Falck (8 victories, RK), the Kommodore of NJG 1, and requested a transfer to day fighters. Falck rejected the request.
Lent continued to strive for success and finally, on the night of 11-12 May 1941, on his 35th mission, shot down two RAF Wellingtons. On 1 July 1941, Lent was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./NJG 1 based at Leeuwarden in Holland. He had 12 victories to his credit: five by night and seven by day. On 30 August, Oberleutnant Lent was awarded the Ritterkreuz for seven victories recorded by day and a further 14 at night. He began a three-week period of leave from 9 September during which time he was married. Lent returned to operations on 7 October. By the end of the year his score had reached 20 night victories, including two of the new RAF Stirling four-engine bombers. Lent was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./NJG 2 on 1 November 1941. He received promotion to the rank of Hauptmann on 1 January 1942. He was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 98) on 6 June, after 34 night victories and eight by day. Throughout 1942, he steadily added to his victory tally. On 6 February 1942, he recorded his eighth, and last, victory by day when he shot down a RAF Hampden twin-engine bomber near Terschelling. On 1 October 1942, Lent was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV./NJG 1. He received promotion to the rank of Major on 1 January 1943. Lent achieved his 50th victory, a RAF Halifax four-engine bomber, on 18 January. He was the first night fighter to reach this mark. By July 1943, Lent had 65 kills to his credit including a RAF Mosquito twin-engine fighter-bomber, shot down on 20 April, the first recorded at night by the Luftwaffe. On 2 August, he added the Schwerten (Nr 32) to his Ritterkreuz for 65 night victories and eight day. Lent was appointed Kommodore of NJG 3, based at Stade, on 1 August 1943. He was wounded in combat with a Stirling on the night of 2/3 October. While he shot down the bomber he sustained a serious wound to his hand and superficial injuries to his face. His injuries kept him from combat duty until November.
By the end of 1943, Lent had 75 night victories to his credit and 83 in total to be the Nachtjagd’s leading scorer. He received promotion to the rank of Oberstleutnant on 1 March. On the night of 22/23 March 1944, Lent downed three RAF Lancaster four-engine bombers using just 22 rounds of ammunition. He reached his 100th night victory on the night of 15-16 June when he downed three Lancasters in seven minutes using just 57 rounds of ammunition. This brought the award of the Brillanten (Nr 15) on 31 July, making him the first night fighter pilot to be so recognized. On 5 October 1944, Lent was landing his Ju 88 G-6 (W.Nr. 751081) “D5 + AA” at Paderborn when an engine failed and he hit a power cable. He survived the crash, which killed his crew, but two days later succumbed to his injuries in Paderborn hospital. Lent received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Oberst.
Awards *
Pilot's Badge (15 November 1937)
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Sudetenland Medal *
Narvik Shield (30 January 1941)
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Wound Badge (1939)
o in Black (14 July 1941)
o in Silver (22 December 1943)
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Iron Cross (1939)
o 2nd class (21 September 1939
o 1st class (11 May 1940)
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Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (26 June 1941)
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Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Destroyer Pilots in Gold *
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Nightfighter Pilots in Gold with Pennant "300" *
Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds *
German Cross in Gold on 9 April 1942 as Hauptmann in the II./NJG 2
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Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds o Knight's Cross on 30 August 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 4./NJG 1
o 98th Oak Leaves on 6 June 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./NJG 2
o 32nd Swords on 2 August 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./NJG 1
o 15th Diamonds on 31 July 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of the NJG 3
* Mentioned six times in the Wehrmachtbericht
