Gerhard Loos
Gerhard Loos (21 August 1916 – 6 March 1944) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Loos is credited with 92 aerial victories, 14 of which claimed in Defense of the Reich.[1]
Gerhard Loos | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 August 1916 Komořany, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 6 March 1944 (aged 27) near Oldenburg |
| Allegiance | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Commands held | 8./JG 54 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
On 6 March 1944 Loos flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and was shot down in aerial combat near Reinsehlen by Lieutenant John Howell of the 357th Fighter Group. Hanging on his parachute he was drifting into a high voltage power line. Releasing the parachute at 20 metres (66 ft) he fell to his death.[2]
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Loos was credited with 92 aerial victories.[3]
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 September 1943)[2]
- German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Leutnant in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54[4]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 54[5][Note 1]
Notes
- According to Scherzer as pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54.[6]
References
Citations
- Weal 2007, p. 67.
- Obermaier 1989, p. 160.
- Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
- Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 284.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 295.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 513.
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 76. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.