Leonard Henry Trent
Group Captain · NZ2481 · New Zealand
- Born
- 14 April 1915, Nelson, New Zealand
- Died
- 19 May 1986, aged 71
- Fate
- Served and survived
Biography
Squadron Leader (later Group Captain) Leonard Henry Trent was a New Zealand bomber pilot awarded the Victoria Cross for one of the most determined attacks of the war. Born at Nelson on 14 April 1915, he gained his wings with the RNZAF in 1938 and came to Britain to serve with the RAF, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1940. As a flight commander with No. 487 (New Zealand) Squadron, flying Lockheed Venturas, he led a daylight formation against a power station at Amsterdam on 3 May 1943. The raid met overwhelming fighter opposition and almost the whole formation was shot down on the run-in, but Trent pressed on, shot down one attacker, and bombed the target before his own aircraft was destroyed. Blown clear of the wreck, he was captured and held at Stalag Luft III, where he took part in the Great Escape. He survived the war and was gazetted for the Victoria Cross in 1946; he died in Auckland on 19 May 1986.
Prisoner of war
-
Stalag Luft III
— Liberated
Shot down on the Amsterdam raid of 3 May 1943; held at Stalag Luft III, where he took part in the Great Escape. Liberated 1945.
Timeline
-
14 April 1915
Born
Nelson, New Zealand -
9 July 1940
Gazetted: DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross -
1 March 1946
Gazetted: VC
Victoria Cross -
19 May 1986
Died
aged 71
Service
- Squadron Leader, No. 487 Squadron (RNZAF)
Awards
-
Victoria Cross (VC) — gazetted 1 March 1946
-
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) — gazetted 9 July 1940