Bidspirit auction | B36c 40th Anniv award Victoria

B36c 40th Anniv award Victoria Cross to Len Trent Signed himself Len Trent VC Holder. 3 May 83 Jersey Lockheed Ventura 41st Anniv of Ventura and 40th Anniv of the award of the Victoria Cross to Gp Capt L. Trent VC. Cover depicts Sqn Ldr Trent in 487 Royal New Zealand Air Force Squadron Lockheed Ventura bombing Amsterdam Power Station on 3 May 1943, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross and 487 Squadron RNZAF badge. The Lockheed Ventura was a development of the Lockheed Lodestar Transport. 394 Venturas were built and carried out their first daylight bombing raid on 3rd November 1942. Personally Signed by Sqn Ldr L. H. Trent VC. On 3rd May 1943 Sqn Ldr Trent showed outstanding leadership when he led 11 Ventura aircraft in a daylight attack on Amsterdam's power station. Crossing the Dutch coast 1 aircraft was hit and forced to return. Enemy fighters then shot down 6 Venturas in 4 minutes and of the reminder only 2 reached the target. Sqn Ldr Trent completed an accurate bombing run before his aircraft broke up and he and his navigator became prisoners of war. The other aircraft was destroyed over the target. Trent was put into Stalag 111 and was appointed to take charge of security matters. On 24th March 1944 the Great Escaper took place when 76 men escaped, Trent was caught when No 77 was spotted by a sentry. He was a lucky because Hitler had 50 of the escapers shot. Details and black and white photo enclosed. 2 backstamp's. Good condition Est.