Helmut Lent (1918–1944) was a German night fighter ace in World War II who shot down 110 aircraft, 103 of them at night. Lent claimed his first aerial victories at the outset of World War II in the invasion of Poland and over the German Bight. During the invasion of Norway he flew ground support missions before he was transferred to the newly established Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1), a night fighter wing. Lent claimed his first nocturnal aerial victory on 12 May 1941 and on 30 August 1941 was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 22 aerial victories—8 daytime and 14 nocturnal aerial victories. His steady accumulation of aerial victories resulted in regular promotions and awards. On the night of 15 June 1944, Major Lent was the first night fighter pilot to claim 100 nocturnal aerial victories, a feat which earned him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds on 31 July 1944. On 5 October 1944, Lent flew a Junkers Ju 88 on a routine transit flight from Stade to Nordborchen, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Paderborn. On the landing approach one of the engines cut out, stalling the aircraft. All four members of the crew were mortally injured. Three men died shortly after the crash and Lent succumbed to his injuries two days later on 7 October 1944.
Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Lent
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1523:
Gustav Vasa became King of Sweden, marking the end of the Kalmar Union. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_I_of_Sweden
1894:
Colorado Governor Davis Hanson Waite ordered his state militia to protect and support the miners engaged in the Cripple Creek miners' strike. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cripple_Creek_miners%27_strike_of_1894
1944:
World War II: The Invasion of Normandy, the largest amphibious military operation in history, began with Allied troops landing on the beaches of Normandy in France . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings
1982:
During the Falklands War, the British Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Cardiff engaged and destroyed British Army Gazelle XX377 in a friendly fire incident. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_British_Army_Gazelle_friendly_fire_incident
2004:
During a joint sitting of both houses of the Indian Parliament, President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam announced that Tamil was made the first legally recognised classical language of India. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
redound (v): 1. To result in, to contribute to (a consequence). 2. To attach, come back, accrue. 3. (obsolete, of liquid) To swell, surge up http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/redound
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Do your duty, and leave the rest to heaven. --Pierre Corneille http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pierre_Corneille