Born in Nelson, Trent obtained a short-term commission in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1938 after receiving flying training in New Zealand.

15 Squadron RAF and was sent to France shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, flying Fairey Battles on photo-reconnaissance missions into Germany.

After his squadron returned to England and converted to Bristol Blenheims, he flew several bombing missions during the Battle of France for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

[6] In early 1937, in response to an advertisement in a newspaper, Trent applied for a short-term commission in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Induction training was with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and was held at Taieri, near Dunedin,[8] where he flew Gipsy Moths and Miles Magisters.

[7] Trent then undertook flight training at the RNZAF's Wigram Air Base in Christchurch,[8] flying Avro 626 and Vickers Vildebeest aircraft.

15 Squadron RAF, which operated Fairey Battles out of Abingdon in Berkshire, Trent spent the next few months learning bombing and reconnaissance flying techniques.

[13] Stationed at Vraux, the squadron was to fly high-level photo-reconnaissance missions over enemy territory, collecting information on German airfields, factories and major infrastructure.

The squadron was sent back to England in early December to convert to the Bristol Blenheim IV, a light bomber, operating from Wyton.

[15] Initial conversion work was on the Bristol Blenheim I and during this time Trent had to make an emergency landing, having become lost in overcast conditions while on a flight to Scotland.

[20] On another mission, his aircraft suffered damage from flak and an attacking Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter and he put down at an airfield on the way back to his base for repairs.

However, advancing Germans threatened the airfield and as night fell, he and his crew had to fly to England as they could not navigate back to their base in France.

[26] In March 1941, his flight lieutenant rank was made substantive[27] and six months later Trent received a new posting at the Operational Training Squadron at Warboys.

[28] He helped assess the Douglas Boston bomber for service in the RAF; on his first flight in the aircraft, it suffered an engine fire forcing an immediate return to his base.

[29] Trent returned to operational duty in March 1942 and, promoted to temporary squadron leader on 1 June,[30] was assigned to Headquarters, No.

The twelve participating Venturas, led by Trent, were to cross the Dutch coast at sea level, escorted by six squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires.

Two more squadrons of Spitfires were to provide top cover for the Venturas over the target, with all of the aircraft keeping to sea level as they approached the Dutch coast so as to avoid showing up on German radar, before climbing to reach bombing height.

However, the Spitfires flying top cover mistimed their departure from England, arriving early and failing to keep low enough when reaching the Dutch coast.

The importance of bombing it, regardless of enemy fighters or anti-aircraft fire, was strongly impressed on the aircrews taking part in the operation.

Heedless of the murderous attacks and of the heavy anti-aircraft fire which was now encountered, Squadron Leader Trent completed an accurate bombing run, and even shot down a Messerschmitt at point blank range.

His cool unflinching courage and devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds rank with the fine examples of these virtues.

Trent, with his wife present, received the VC from King George VI in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 26 March 1946.

[53] In late 1946, Trent and his family travelled by sea to Auckland in New Zealand for a period of extended leave before commencing service with the RNZAF.

[54] Once his leave had finished, his initial work for the RNZAF was as part of a committee to select fliers for service with the RAF, which was seeking to augment its ranks with experienced personnel.

He returned to England with his family, which now included a son, in late 1947[55] and resumed his career in the RAF with the substantive rank of flight lieutenant.

[56] Trent was posted to Bircham Newton, a Transport Command station, as an instructor to help prepare students to fly Dakotas.

In September 1948,[57] having been promoted to the substantive rank of squadron leader earlier in the year,[58] he was sent to Dishforth which trained pilots to fly the Avro York transport.

[57] He flew several operations during the Berlin airlift but soon began to suffer from ankylosing spondylitis which required specialist treatment for a few months before he could return to duty.

[62] The following year, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal,[63] promoted to wing commander[64] and posted to Oakington where he instructed on Gloster Meteors.

[68] Later that year, in October, his squadron was dispatched to Malta due to the outbreak of the Suez Crisis[69] and flew a number of missions into Egypt.