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>
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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>
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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>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Do your duty, and leave the rest to heaven.
--Pierre Corneille
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pierre_Corneille>