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Lent, Helmuth (Nachtjagdgeschwader 3)

Date of birth:
June 13th, 1918 (Pyrehne-Landsberg/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:
October 7th, 1944 (Paderborn, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Helmut Lent achieved 105 night victories (among which were 61 four engined bombers) and 8 daytime victories in 396 Nachtjagd and 111 Zerstörer sorties.

Promotions:
1 April 1936: Fahnenjunker
1 April 1937: Fähnrich
1 February 1938: Oberfähnrich
1 March 1938: Leutnant
1 July 1940: Oberleutnant
1 January 1942: Hauptmann
1 January 1943: Major
1 March 1944: Oberstleutnant
Posthumously: Oberst

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 21st, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 10th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 15th, 1941
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 6. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
Awarded on:
August 30th, 1941
Awarded after 8 day and 14 night victories.

303rd Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 10th, 1941
Oberleutnant Lent achieved his 20th nocturnal aerial victory.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 28th, 1942
A night fighter squadron under the leadership of Hauptmann Lent and Oberleutnant Prince zu Lippe-Weißenfeld scored their 100th aerial victory when warding off an attack of British bombers on the Reich on the night of 27 January.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
II. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
Awarded on:
April 9th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Awarding 3/44 directly by the Führer and Oberbefehlshaber der Wehrmacht.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 16th, 1942
Hauptmann Lent achieved his 30th nocturnal aerial victory in the night to 16 May.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur II. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
Awarded on:
June 6th, 1942
Awarded after 35 night victories.

98th Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 21st, 1942
Oberleutnant zur Lippe Lippe-Weißenfeld achieved three aerial victories last night, Hauptmann Lent achieved his 35th nocturnal aerial victory.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major (Squadron Leader)
Unit:
Kommandeur IV. / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
Awarded on:
August 2nd, 1943
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded after 66 night victories.

32nd Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 18th, 1944
Oberstleutnant Lent, commodore of a night fight wing, shot down his 100th adversary in the night from 15 to 16 June.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Wing Commander)
Unit:
Kommandeur, Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
Awarded on:
July 31st, 1944
Ritterkreuz, Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten
Awarded after 100 night victories.

15th Award.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 11th, 1944
Reported additionally to the Wehrmachtbericht:
Geschwaderkommodore Oberstleutnant Helmut Lent, recipient of the highest German medal of bravery, found a flier's death. With him the Luftwaffe loses their most successful night fighter, who in combat against the British nocturnal terror attacks achieved 102 aerial victories.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
II. Gruppe, Nachtjagdgeschwader 2

Proposed on February 20th, 1942
Awarded on:
November 15th, 1937
Flugzeugführerabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
January 30th, 1941
Narvikschild
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 14th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 22nd, 1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber

Sources

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