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Gerhard Loos
Born	21 August 1916 Kommern district of Brüx, Sudetenland
Died	6 March 1944 (1944-03-07) (aged 27) near Oldenburg
Cause of death	Killed in action
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–1944
Rank	Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
Commands	9./JG 54
Battles / wars	World War II Eastern Front Defense of the Reich †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gerhard Loos (21 August 1916 – 6 March 1944) was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he claimed 92 aerial victories, 14 of which were claimed in Defense of the Reich.

Born in Kommern within the Sudetenland, Loos served in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany. Following flight training, he served as an instructor before being posted to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in late 1942, operating on the Eastern Front. He claimed his first aerial victory on 19 February 1943. By late September 1943, his number of aerial victories had increased to 83 and was transferred to the Western Front. Here, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1944. On 21 February, Loos was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of JG 54. He was killed in action on 6 March 1944 in aerial combat with United States Army Air Forces fighters near Oldenburg.

Career

Loos was born on 21 August 1916 in Kommern, at the time part of Brüx within the Sudetenland, present-day Komořany which is part of Most in the Czech Republic. In early 1939, Loos entered the Luftwaffe and following completion of flight and fighter pilot training, he served as an instructor with a Jagdfliegerschule 5, the fighter pilot school in Wien-Schwechat. In late 1942, Loos was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) based on the Eastern Front.

War against the Soviet Union

In early 1943, I. Gruppe of JG 54 was based at Krasnogvardeysk, present-day Gatchina, southwest of Leningrad, and fighting in the Siege of Leningrad in support of Army Group North. In February, the Gruppe converted from the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 to the radial engine powered Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4 fighter aircraft. Loos claimed his first aerial victory on 19 February while fighting in the Demyansk Offensive. Assigned to 3. Staffel under command of Hauptmann Gerhard Koall, Loss shot down a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber.

In early July, I. Gruppe of JG 54 was ordered to move to Oryol, in the southern sector of Army Group Centre, where it fought in Operation Citadel which initiated the Battle of Kursk. Subordinated to Luftflotte 6 (Air Fleet 6), the Gruppe began relocating on 2 July and arrived at the airfield named Panikowo, a makeshift airfield created for the attack on the Kursk salient, on 4 July. The next day, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Citadel and I. Gruppe supported the attack of the 9th Army on the northern sector of the salient, escorting bombers of Kampfgeschwader 4, 51 and KG 53 (KG 4, KG 51—4th, 51st Bomber Wing), as well as Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers of Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (StG 1—1st Dive Bomber Wing) to their target areas. That day, I. Gruppe claimed 59 aerial victories, including five aircraft, three Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighters and two Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, by Loos in the vicinity of Maloarkhangelsk. This achievement made him an "ace-in-a-day". Two days later, Loos claimed another Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down. The Il-2 belonged to 299 ShAD (Shturmovaya Aviatsionnyy Diveeziya—Ground Attack Air Division) piloted by Leytenánt A. S. Baranov.

On 20 July during the Soviet counteroffensive Operation Kutuzov, I. Gruppe relocated to Karachev. On 4 August, supporting German forces fighting at Oryol, the Gruppe claimed 25 aerial victories, including six by Loos, his second "ace-in-a-day" achievement. On 9 August, the Gruppe was ordered to an aifield named Bolschoje Rudka located near Poltava. Here the Gruppe supported German forces fighting against the Soviet Belgorod–Bogodukhov offensive operation. Here on 23 August on the final day of the Belgorod–Kharkov offensive operation, Loos achieved his third "ace-in-a-day" achievement, claiming three Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers, also known as Boston, two Pe-2 bombers and a single Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down. On 20 September, Loos was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe). Eight days later, he was transferred to III. Gruppe of JG 54 which was fighting in Defense of the Reich.

Defense of the Reich and death

In late September 1943, III. Gruppe of JG 54 was under command of Hauptmann Siegfried Schnell and was based at Schwerin. For his 83 aerial victories claimed, Loos was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 17 October. On 2 December, the Gruppe was moved to Ludwigslust. Loos claimed his first aerial victory in Defense of the Reich on 20 December. That day, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) VIII Bomber Command targeted Bremen in northern Germany. III. Gruppe was scrambled at 11:10 and intercepted the bombers and their fighter escorts at 12:00 in the area of Bremen following their bomb run. In this encounter, Loos claimed a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber shot down.

Loos claimed his second B-17 bomber on 11 January 1944 when pilots of III. Gruppe claimed ten B-17 bombers and two escorting North American P-51 Mustang fighters. On 5 February, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Loos was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) and appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 54 on 21 February. He succeeded Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schilling who was transferred. On 6 March, Loos flying Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 411922—factory number) was shot down in aerial combat near Reinsehlen. His victor may have been 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 meters (66 feet) he fell to his death. Loos was briefly replaced by Leutnant Alfred Kromer, who was killed only two days later. Command of 9. Staffel was then passed to Hauptmann Emil Lang.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Loos was credited with 92 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 92 aerial victories, 78 of which on the Eastern Front and 14 on the Western Front, including two four-engined heavy bombers. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 84 aerial victory claims, all but one four-engined heavy bomber on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 10473". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 20 September 1943 as Leutnant and pilot
• German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Leutnant in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 54

Notes

1. Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.
2. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.
3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:41.
4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:24.
5. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.
6. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54.

References

Citations

1. Weal 2007, p. 67.
2. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
3. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 160.
4. Dixon 2023, pp. 68–69.
5. Prien et al. 2012, p. 85.
6. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 90, 165, 170.
7. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 127, 129.
8. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 129–130, 176.
9. Bergström 2007, p. 49.
10. Prien et al. 2012, p. 137.
11. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 141–142, 180.
12. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 142–143.
13. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 145, 182.
14. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 69.
15. Prien et al. 2009, p. 281.
16. Prien et al. 2009, pp. 279–280, 285.
17. Prien et al. 2019, pp. 436, 450.
18. Dixon 2023, p. 68.
19. ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 446.
20. Prien et al. 2019, p. 455.
21. Bucholtz 2010, p. 96.
22. Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
23. Spick 1996, p. 234.
24. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 768–770.
25. Planquadrat.
26. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 768.
27. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
28. Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
29. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
30. Prien et al. 2012, p. 172.
31. Prien et al. 2012, p. 173.
32. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 174.
33. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 176.
34. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 181.
35. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 177.
36. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 768, 770.
37. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 178.
38. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
39. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
40. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 769.
41. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 185.
42. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 770.
43. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1160.
44. Prien et al. 2009, p. 285.
45. Prien et al. 2019, p. 450.
46. Patzwall 2008, p. 137.
47. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 284.
48. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 295.
49. Scherzer 2007, p. 513.

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer ; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
• Bergström, Christer (2007). Kursk—The Air Battle: July 1943. Hersham, Surrey: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-88-8.
• Bergström, Christer . "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
• Bucholtz, Chris (2010). Mustang Aces of the 357th Fighter Group. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 96. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-985-0.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) . 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.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
• 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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2009). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/III—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/III—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-89-2.
• 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.
• Prien, Jochen; Balke, Ulf; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2019). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/V—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/V—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-21-5.
• 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.
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
• 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.

• Aviation
• Biography

• 1916 births
• 1944 deaths
• Aviators killed by being shot down
• Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II
• German World War II flying aces
• Luftwaffe pilots
• People from Most (city)
• Recipients of the Gold German Cross
• Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
• Sudeten German people
• Accidental deaths from falls