Group Captain Leonard Henry Trent, was a New Zealand aviator, senior Royal Air Force officer, and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Portrait of Leonard Trent, 1946, by William Dring
Squadron Leader Trent (left) with Wing Commander G. J. "Chopper" Grindell (centre) and Squadron Leader T. Turnbull (right) in 1943
Non-commissioned officers of Trent's No. 487 Squadron, with a Ventura at RAF Methwold, early 1943
A Vickers Valiant of No. 214 Squadron
No. 487 (NZ) Squadron was a light bomber squadron established for service during the Second World War. It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although many of its flying personnel were largely drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served in Europe under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force as part of Bomber Command. Formed in mid-1942, it operated the Lockheed Ventura and then the de Havilland Mosquito and took part in over 3,000 operational sorties before being disbanded at the end of the war in late 1945.
No. 487 Squadron RNZAF
Non-commissioned officers of No. 487 Squadron at RAF Methwold in early 1943
Mosquitoes over Amiens during Operation Jericho
