Major Lent February 1944

[Ju88G1]

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

[Wim]

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

[nickraymond]

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

[Leo Etgen]

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

[retje]

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

[nickraymond]

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