Helmut Lent

Infobox Military Person
name=Helmut Lent
lived=birth date|1918|6|13|df=y — death date and age|1944|10|7|1918|6|13|df=y
placeofbirth=Pyrehne near Landsberg
placeofdeath=Paderborn


caption=Helmut Lent
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1936 - 1944
rank=Oberst
commands=IV./NJG 1, II./NJG 2, NJG 3
unit=ZG 76, NJG 1, NJG 2, NJG 3
battles=World War II
*Invasion of Poland (1939)
*Norwegian Campaign
*Defense of the Reich
awards="Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, Schwerten und Brillianten"
laterwork=

Helmut Lent (13 June 1918 - 7 October 1944) was an "Ace" German fighter pilot of World War II, and one of only 27 people awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. He exclusively flew twin-engined aircraft, predominantly the Messerschmitt Bf 110.

Biography

Lent was born in Pyrehne, district of Landsberg (now Pyrzany, Poland), the son of a clergyman.

Early day fighter service

In 1936 he volunteered for the Luftwaffe and after training was posted as a Messerschmitt Bf 110 pilot. In 1938, he joined 3 Staffel, "Zerstörergeschwader 76". He served with this Staffel at the beginning of World War II in the campaign against Poland. On 2 September 1939 he claimed one of the first air-victories of the war. After the fall of Poland, ZG 76 was assigned to defend the German coastline on the North Sea. Here, Lent claimed two victories against attacking Vickers Wellingtons on 18 December 1939. During the Norwegian Campaign, he scored four more kills (one Norwegian and two Royal Air Force (RAF) Gloster Gladiators, and a Short Sunderland flying boat).

Night fighter career

His career as a night fighter [ [http://www.luftwaffe.cz/nacht.html Luftwaffe night fighter aces] ] commenced in August 1940, when after he had done Nightfighter training at Ingolstadt in South Germany, he became Staffelkapitän of the newly formed 6./NJG 1 on 1 October 1940 based at Fliegerhorst Deelen located just north of Arnhem in the Netherlands. On the night 11-12 May 1941, Lent claimed two aircraft shot down.

On July 1, 1941, he took command of 4./NJG 1 stationed in the north of the Netherlands at Fliegerhorst Leeuwarden. At he end of world war two it was the most successful Nachtjagdstaffel of the Luftwaffe. Other members of this Staffel were nightfighter pilots such as Oberleutnant Helmut Woltersdorf (24 victories, KIA june 1942); Leutnant Ludwig Becker (44 victories, KIA february 1943); Leutnant Prinz Egmont zur Lippe-Weissenfeld (51 victories, killed in a flying accident in the Netherlands in march 1944); Leutnant Leopold Fellerer (41 victories); Oberfeldwebel Paul Gildner (46 victories, killed in a flying accident at Fliegerhorst Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands in february 1943) and Unteroffizier Siegfried Ney (12 victories, KIA february 1943).

30 August 1941 he was awarded the "Ritterkreuz" for seven daytime and 14 night victories.

On 1 November 1941, Lent became "Gruppenkommandeur" of the new II./NJG 2. One week later, he celebrated his 20th victory. When his score reached 42, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross. By the end of 1942, Lent had 56 victories and was the top German night-fighter ace.

After 73 kills, he was awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross, and on 2 August 1943 he was appointed "Kommodore" of NJG 3. His promotion to Major was announced shortly before.

In January 1944 Lent downed three 'heavies' in one night, but his plane was damaged by return fire, causing a forced landing. He used just 22 cannon shells in downing two bombers on the night of the 22-23 March 1944, and against three Avro Lancasters on 15-16 June he fired only 57 rounds in seven minutes.

Promoted to Oberstleutnant, he was awarded the Diamonds in recognition of his 110 confirmed air kills, the first night-fighter awarded the decoration.

Death

On the 5 October 1944, Lent flew his Junkers Ju-88 G-6, coded D5+AA, to Paderborn. During the landing approach, the left engine of the plane failed and the plane hit high-voltage cables. In the ensuing crash, two of his crewmen died instantly. His radio-operator for many years, Leutnant Walter Kubisch, died the next day. Lent himself died on 7 October 1944.

Helmut Lent is officially credited with 110 victories in 507 flights. The total includes 103 victories at night, with 59 four-engine bombers and one Mosquito destroyed.

Awards

* Narvik Shield
* Wound Badge in Silver
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (26 June 1941)
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "300"
* Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds
* German Cross in Gold (9 April 1942)
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
** Knight's Cross (20 August 1941)
** 98. Oak Leaves (6 June 1942)
** 32. Swords (2 August 1943)
** 15. Diamonds (31 July 1944)
* Mentioned six times in the Wehrmachtbericht (10 November 1941, 28 January 1942, 16 May 1942, 21 June 1942, 18 June 1944, 11 October 1944)

ee also

*List of German World War II night fighter aces

References

* Berger, Florian, "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Hinchliffe, Peter, "The Lent Papers" Helmut Lent, Cerberus Publishing Limited 2003. ISBN 1-84145-105-3
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
* Scutts, Jerry. "German Night Fighter Aces of World War 2". Osprey Publishing, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-696-5.

External links

* [http://www.luftwaffe.cz/lent.html Detailed biographical information]