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Lent, Helmuth

Date of birth:
June 13th, 1918 (Pyrehne-Landsberg/Brandenburg, Germany)
Date of death:
October 7th, 1944 (Paderborn/Westernphalia, Germany)
Buried on:
Old Garrison Cemetery
Nationality:
German

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. He lies buried at the Old Garrison Cemetery in Stade together with his crew Walter Kubisch, Hermann Klöss and Werner Kark

Promotions:
April 1st, 1936: Fahnenjunker;
April 1st, 1937: Fähnrich;
February 1st, 1938: Oberfähnrich;
March 1st, 1938: Leutnant;
July 1st, 1940: Oberleutnant;
January 1st, 1942: Hauptmann;
January 1st, 1943: Major;
March 1st, 1944: Oberstleutnant;
?: Oberst (posthumously).

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Awarded on:
November 15th, 1937
Flugzeugführerabzeichen
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:
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:
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:
December 22nd, 1943
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
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

Sources