Oberst und Luftwaffe ass. Nachtjagdgeschwader 1(NJG 1). He joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. After completing training, he was assigned to the 1. Squadron, or Staffel, of Zerstörergeschwader 76, a wing flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engine heavy fighter. Lent claimed his first aerial victories at the outset of World War II in the invasion of Poland over the North Sea. During the invasion of Norway he flew ground support missions before he was transferred to the newly established Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, a night-fighter wing. By the end of the war it was the most successful night fighter unit and had claimed some 2,311 victories, for some 676 aircrew killed in action. Lent claimed his first nocturnal victory on 5/12/1941 and on 8/30/1941 was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for 22 victories. Promoted to Oberstleutnant, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds in recognition of his 110 confirmed air kills, the first of two night-fighter pilots to be awarded the decoration. On 10/5/1944, Lent flew a Junkers Ju 88 on a routine transit flight from Stade to Nordborchen. During the landing approach, the left engine of the plane failed, causing the wing to dip and unable to keep the plane steady, it struck high-voltage power lines. All four members of the crew were mortally injured, but were rescued alive. Two succumbed to their injuries on the same day, one the next morning, and Lent two days later. Lent received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Oberst. Helmut Lent’s state funeral was held in the Reich Chancellery, Berlin.
Oberst und Luftwaffe ass. Nachtjagdgeschwader 1(NJG 1). He joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. After completing training, he was assigned to the 1. Squadron, or Staffel, of Zerstörergeschwader 76, a wing flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engine heavy fighter. Lent claimed his first aerial victories at the outset of World War II in the invasion of Poland over the North Sea. During the invasion of Norway he flew ground support missions before he was transferred to the newly established Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, a night-fighter wing. By the end of the war it was the most successful night fighter unit and had claimed some 2,311 victories, for some 676 aircrew killed in action. Lent claimed his first nocturnal victory on 5/12/1941 and on 8/30/1941 was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for 22 victories. Promoted to Oberstleutnant, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds in recognition of his 110 confirmed air kills, the first of two night-fighter pilots to be awarded the decoration. On 10/5/1944, Lent flew a Junkers Ju 88 on a routine transit flight from Stade to Nordborchen. During the landing approach, the left engine of the plane failed, causing the wing to dip and unable to keep the plane steady, it struck high-voltage power lines. All four members of the crew were mortally injured, but were rescued alive. Two succumbed to their injuries on the same day, one the next morning, and Lent two days later. Lent received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Oberst. Helmut Lent’s state funeral was held in the Reich Chancellery, Berlin.
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