Subject: Re: Book report, "The Lent Papers"
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 12:42:46 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: [email-masked] 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 7:01 PM
  Subject: Book report, "The Lent Papers"

  From: [email-masked]
  To: "Bob Magina" <[email-masked]>, "Frank Knight" <[email-masked]>, "Bob Niemiec" <[email-masked]>, "norm filer" <[email-masked]>, "Robert Allen" <[email-masked]>, "calisto01" <[email-masked]>
  Se----- Forwarded Message -----nt: Saturday, July 31, 2010 9:57:35 PM
  Subject: Book report, "The Lent Papers"

  Book Report, "The Lent Papers", a biography of Oberstleutnant Helmut Lent, Nightfighter pilot and ace.        Hal Marshman Sr

  Authored by Peter Hinchliffe, published by Cerberus Publishing, Ltd, 2003/2005

      This was a bargain purchase from one of the book catalogues I receive at my house monthly. At $7.95 (suggested retail is USD 39.95), plus a like amount for shipping, I found it hard to resist. The book is printed in a matte finish, that's absolutely flat. At first I found this finish somewhat disconcerting, but I became acclimated to it rapidly. At least it resists glare and reflected light, unlike many books I've read. The Lent Papers is very heavily illustrated, with at least one photo on nearly every page. The photos are of course wartime pictures, some are grainy or blurry to an extent, but I've not seen at least 90 percent of them before. For the student of Luftwaffe uniforms and decorations, they are very valuable. Outside of the various pictures of Lent, his family, fellow airmen, and occasions during his life and career, there are duplicates of log book entries, letters and messages, telegrams, and his various award documents. For the aviation enthusiast, there are pictures of all the various airplanes Lent trained in, and later flew combat in, not to mention each and every type he claimed as victories during his nightfighter career. Many of these photos were gleaned from family sources, in particular those taken before he entered the military, and the multiplicity of those taken at his funeral. In my opinion, the illustrations are well worth the price of the book.

      Oberstleutnant (Lt. Colonel in US sevices) Lent started his career just prior to the onset of World War II. He flew Bf-110 twin engined fighters during the Polish and Norwegian campaigns, acquiring 8 of his vicories as a day fighter. After being transferred to the night figters, it took him a little while to make his first score, but once started, embarked on an almost meteoric career, with victories, promotions, and decorations following each other in fairly rapid successon.At the time of his death in a landing accident in October of 1944, Helmut was an Oberstleutnant, the Kommodore of a night fighter Jagdgeschwader. and a holder of the Knght's Cross with Oakleaves, Crossed Swords, and Diamonds, and all this at the age of 25. Between his day and night victories, he accumulated 110 kills. Testimonials written by Geschwader mates abound, and all show Helmut as a strict but human commanding officer, showing great concern for his men. He also showed concern for the crews of the aircraft he shot down. As a practicing Christian he murmured a prayer for his fallen enemies. He appears to have not been a convinced National Socialist. but as a commanding officer, he was obliged to give lip service to the regime he served. I mentioned his Christianity, and as a member of the German Evangelical Church, he did practice his religion, indeed, his letters home tell of a great devotion to his God. It is not my purpose to argue the incongruities of a faithful Christian serving a regime as foul as that of Nazi Germany, just to report to you my impressions after reading his biography. I would have to say, "Read the book, and form your own conclusions". 

      In summary, I found "The Lent Papers" to be a valuable record of an expert practitioner of his trade, that of a night fighter ace, full of insights into his personality, and in the process, a detailled study of the RAF's night assault against Germany, and the steps taken by the Luftwaffe to counter that attack.                       Hal Sr