Helmut Lent

From The Air Combat Wiki

Second night-fighter ace of all time.

Lent was born on the 13 June 1918 in Pyrehne, Germany as the son of a priest. In 1936 he volunteered the Luftwaffe. That year his training was interrupted for a five-week period when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in which he broke his right upper leg. He was again involved in a motor vehicle accident in late June 37, which resulted in a broken jaw and three weeks in hospital. After training, in 1938, he was posted as a Ar 68 fighter pilot and participated in armed patrols in support of Germany’s occupation of the Sudetenland.

On 1 May 1939, his unit JG 141 was redesignated 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. 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.

After Poland ZG 76 was posted to defend the German coastline on the North Sea. Here, Lent claimed two victories against attacking Vickers Wellingtons on 18 December 1939. Lent 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 dead, Lent overshot on landing and crashed, fortunately without injury. ZG 76 relocated to Stavanger on 14 April. On 18 May, 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. On 27 May, Lent was escorting Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, attacking the radio masts at Bodösjöen, when RAF Gladiator fighters attempted to intervene. Lent shot one down for his sixth victory. His victim was RAF ace Flight Lieutenant Caesar Hull who crash-landed at his airfield, wounded in the head and knee. In Norway Lent also managed to shoot down a Short Sunderland flying boat.

His career as a as night-fighter pilot started in August 1940, becoming Staffelkapitän of the newly formed 6./NJG 1 based at Deelen in Holland. 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, 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. By 30 August he had achieved 14 night kills and was awarded with the Knights Cross.

During 1941, Lent was asked by High Command to evaluate the 'Schräge Musik' concept and turned it down. On 1 November 1941, Lent became Gruppenkommandeur of the new II./NJG 2. One week later he celebrated his 20th air victory. 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 18 January 43 Lent achieved his 50th victory, a RAF Halifax four-engine bomber. He was the first night-fighter pilot 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. After 73 kills, on 2 August 43, he was awarded with the Swords and appointed Kommodore of NJG 3. His promotion to Major was announced shortly before.

By the end of 1943, Lent had 75 night victories to his credit and 83 in total, making him the Nachtjagd’s leading scorer. In January 44 Lent got three 'heavies' in one night, but his plane was hit by return fire, and Lent had to force land his fighter. Lent used just 22 cannon shells in downing two bombers on the night of the 22-23 March 1944, and against three Lancasters on 15-16 June he used only 57 rounds, shooting the three bombers down within seven minutes. Promoted to Oberstleutnant, he was awarded with the Diamonds on 31 July 44 in recognition of 110 air kills, being the first night-fighter pilot awarded this decoration.

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

He is credited with 110 victories in 507 operations. This total includes 103 victories at night, with 59 four-engine bombers and one Mosquito destroyed.