Leonard Henry Trent

Group Captain Leonard Henry Trent VC DFC (1915-1986) was a New Zealander recipient of the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

A pilot of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Trent was attached to the Royal Air Force on initially flying Bristol Blenheims. He test flew the Douglas DB-7 Boston, which he strongly recommended to the RAF. He was appointed to command No. 487 Squadron RNZAF, a New Zealand Squadron of the Royal Air Force, which was working up on Lockheed Venturas, for day light raids, a task the type was manifestly inadequate for.

Details

He was 28 years old, and a squadron leader in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, serving with No. 487 Squadron RNZAF, under Royal Air Force control during the World War II, when he was awarded the VC.

On 3 May 1943 the squadron was ordered on a 'Ramrod' diversionary bombing attack on the power station in Amsterdam, (the code Ramrod meant a bomber raid escorted by fighters aimed at destruction of a specific target in daylight). Nos. 118, 167 and 504 Squadrons of the Coltishall Wing were to escort the Venturas, and were to be met by further squadrons of 11 Group , Fighter Command over the Dutch coast. The Venturas were to cross the coast at sea level so as not to alert German radar, then climb. Unfortunately the 11 groups Mk IXs flying "Rodeo 212" ahead of the Venturas arrived early and crossed the coast high, being anxious to gain a height advantage, alerting the German defences. They ran low on fuel before the Venturas arrived and had to leave. The Luftwaffe scrambled some 70 fighters in four formations, with FW 190's to deal with the escort and Bf 109's the bombers. The escort Wing Leader, W/C Blatchford, vainly attempted to recall the bombers but were soon hemmed in by fighters. Under constant attack by II gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 1, 487 Squadron continued on to its target, the few surviving aircraft completing bombing runs before being shot down.The Squadron was vitually wiped out. Trent shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 with the forward machine guns of his plane. Immediately afterwards, his own aircraft (Ventura AJ209) was hit, went into a spin and broke up. Squadron Leader Trent and his navigator were thrown clear at 7,000 feet and became prisoners. Squadron Leader Trent,whose leadership was instrumental in ensuring the bombing run was completed, was awarded the Victoria Cross. He had displayed cool, unflinching courage in the face of overwhelming odds.

Further information

After his capture, Trent was assigned to Stalag Luft III; Sagan, Germany (now Zagan, Poland). He participated in the "Great Escape" of March 24, 1944; although he was recaptured shortly thereafter.Trent survived the war in a POW camp.He later achieved the rank of Group Captain; retiring in 1965. Rejoining the Royal Air Force, he trained in jets, (having the dubious distinction of having to eject from a Vampire and a Meteor), and later commanded 214 Squadron with the then new Vickers Valiants. He became a Group Captain, and Air Attaché to Washington, before returning to New Zealand with his wife and two daughters. A biography, "Venturer Courageous" by James Saunders was published by Hutchinson in 1983. He returned to New Zealand and died May 19, 1986 in a hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.

References

*For Valour: The Air VCs. Chaz Bowyer. Grub Street. 1992
*2 Group RAF; A complete History 1936-45. Chaz Bowyer. Faber & Faber 1974.

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7572/nzvcross.txt New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross] "(brief biography details)"