Major Lent February 1944
 

Major Lent shot down two planes the 24th of February, 1944. Hinchliffe does not mention these victories in his book 'The Lent Papers' but Tony Wood has an entry:
'24.02.44Major Helmut LentStab/NJG 3 4-mot. Flzg. Insel Ærø : 3.200 m.21.37 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.12
24.02.44Major Helmut Lent Stab/NJG 3 4-mot. Flzg. Insel Langeland: 4.000 m. 21.47 Film C. 2025/I Anerk: Nr.13'

Hinchliffe mention in his book that Lent flew operationally once during February 1944 and that was the night 24th/25th. The night Bomber Command attacked Schweinfurt, but Lent flew against minelaying aircraft over the Baltic.
Two planes went missing during minelaying off Kiel:

Stirling III EH948 AA-Q, No. 75 Squadron, F/Sgt Bruhns, Sgt Harry, Wilkes, Butler, Summers, Hall and F/Sgt Sawtell, killed. F/Sgt RA H Sawtell buried in Aabenraa in Denmark.
That was probably Major Helmut Lent, Stab/NJG 3, 4-mot. Flzg. Insel Ærø, 3.200 m., 21.37 Uhr

Stirling EF307 OJ-E, No. 149 Squadron, F/O Collins, Sgt Gowans, F/O Blencowe, W/O Long, Sgt Macpherson, P/O Raymond and F/O Davies disappeared in the sea. That was probably Major Helmut Lent, Stab/NJG 3, 4-mot. Flzg. Insel Langeland, 4.000 m., 21.47 Uhr

Hinchliffe have had access to Lents logbook but he has not answered my letters (yet). Where (and when) took Lent off from (Stade ?) and when did he land ?

Carsten

Lent February 1944
 

Hello,

Helmut Lent and his Bordfunker Kubisch, flying in Bf 110 "CA" took off from Stade at 2021 hours on the 24th February and landed there again that same evening at 2313 hours. This "Nachtjagd"-flight lasted 172 minutes as recorded. There is no recording of any victory that evening in his logbook, and it was indeed the only operational flight that he made that month.

Hope this is help.
Regards,

W

Re: Major Lent February 1944
 

Hello All
I have only recently started to make some progress in tracing the flying career of my grandfather p/o G.T.Raymond. I read the information about Major Lent (as my grandfather flew in EF307) with great interest. If Major Lent does not record these shoot-downs, is there anywhere else I could check on night fighter activity on the night of 24-25 Feb 44?
Any help much appreciated.
Nick

Major Lent February 1944
 

Hello Nick

Theo Boiten and Rod Mackenzie in Nachtjagd War Diaries credit Major Lent with the downing of the two Stirling four-engined bombers as his 89th (EH948) and 90th (EF307) victories on 24 February 1944. I hope this helps you on your search for additional information regarding your grandfather.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Major Lent February 1944
 

But how do we explain, there is no recording of any victory the evening of 24.2. in the logbook of Helmut Lent?

The only claim that I have around Kiel that night is at 00.00 hours by Oblt. Szardenings, II.NJG 3 and claimed an Stirling at Kieler Bucht.


Regards,

René

Re: Major Lent February 1944
 

Hi
Thanks very much for the info. The other name I have for EF307 is Heinz Rokker of 2-NJG2. Does anyone have any further info please?
Nick

Major Lent February 1944
 

Hello Nick

Nachtjagd War Diaries states that Oberleutnant Heinz Rökker claimed his 10th victory against a Stirling at 22:43. The victim is not identified and the location is given as south of Heilbronn which is in Baden-Württemberg and so it would nearly be impossible that this was EF307 which was lost on a mine laying mission in Kiel Bay. A quick look at the claims shows that only Lent claimed victories over the sea that night. I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: Major Lent February 1944
 

Guys
When reading the Hinchliffe The Lent Papers, I was not aware of any problems with the later victories by the man.
Checking this book against Nachtjagd War Diaries produces quite a lot of differences, basically starting on Aug 24th 1943 when Hinchliffe introduces a victory over Berlin Tegel which does not appear in the War Diaries. Hinchliffe also has a Lent victory on 23.4.44 which has not made it into the Nachjagd volume II. Neither does Hinchliffes victory claims from 17.8.44, 12.9.44 and 17.9.44 make into Boiten/Mackenzie's book. Since Hinchliffe's total then stops at 111 against the normally accepted 110 he creates a further puzzle. When reading his book I was more interested in the man Lent than his score so I actually never noticed this until today:o. Without the five dates above the War Diaries are then down to 106 listings for Lent. They however make it 110 by introducing the four victories on 24.2.44 (2), 19.7.44 and 21.7.44, neither date of course present in the Lent Papers.

Cheers
Stig