Gerhard Loos

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 (—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 airfield 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 . 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 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 . 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 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 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 . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — February 1943 1 19 February 1943 15:23 Pe-2 PQ 36 Ost 10473 northeast of Lubań 2 22 February 1943 16:04 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00423Puskin-Mga – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 28 September 1943 3 2 March 1943 11:32 I-16 PQ 26 Ost 90272 south of Lomonosov 44 7 August 1943 11:28 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 54581 northeast of Karachev 4 22 March 1943 11:52 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00411 east of Pushkin 45 7 August 1943 11:39 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 54594 northeast of Karachev 5 8 April 1943 18:06 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 00243 southeast of Leningrad 46 8 August 1943 18:36 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 54823 southwest of Bolkhov 6 24 May 1943 19:35 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 09814 47 8 August 1943 18:47 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53281 southwest of Oryol 7 24 May 1943 19:38 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 09833 48 9 August 1943 12:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61724 east-southeast of Zolochiv 8 24 May 1943 19:41 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 19741 northwest of Staraya Russa 49 12 August 1943 09:17 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41692 9 24 May 1943 19:50 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 19761 north-northeast of Staraya Russa 50 12 August 1943 17:25 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 41633 10♠ 5 July 1943 09:55 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63751 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 51 12 August 1943 17:28 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 41631 11♠ 5 July 1943 10:03 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63863 north-northwest of Kursk 52 12 August 1943 17:29 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 41632 12♠ 5 July 1943 18:32 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63553 west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 53 13 August 1943 16:44 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61713 southeast of Zolochiv 13♠ 5 July 1943 18:43 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 73573 54 13 August 1943 17:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51711 southeast of Zolochiv 14♠ 5 July 1943 18:48 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63694 east-southeast of Maloarkhangelsk 55 13 August 1943 19:02 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61351 west of Belgorod 15 7 July 1943 05:15 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63494 south-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 56 15 August 1943 11:07 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51814 north of Bogodukhov 16 8 July 1943 17:38 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63574 southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 57 16 August 1943 11:18 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51644south of Grayvoron 17 9 July 1943 12:09 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63683 southeast of Maloarkhangelsk 58 18 August 1943 07:38 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60181Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 18? 9 July 1943 12:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63649 59 18 August 1943 07:41 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 60131Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 19 9 July 1943 12:16 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63672 southeast of Maloarkhangelsk 60 18 August 1943 07:49 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60163Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 20 10 July 1943 14:31 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63575 northeast of Oboyan 61 18 August 1943 07:51 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 60163Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 21 12 July 1943 17:27 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64247 west-northwest of Plavsk 62 19 August 1943 13:13 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 51354 northwest of Grayvoron 22 12 July 1943 17:32 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64424 east-southeast of Belyov 63 19 August 1943 15:33 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 51721 northwest of Bogodukhov 23 13 July 1943 12:24 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 54499 northwest of Bolkhov 64 19 August 1943 15:39 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 51811 north of Bogodukhov 24 13 July 1943 12:29 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 64489 northwest of Bolkhov 65 20 August 1943 18:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51792 south-southwest of Bogodukhov 25 14 July 1943 16:37 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54442 northwest of Bolkhov 66 20 August 1943 18:21 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51871 south of Bogodukhov 26 18 July 1943 06:54 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54484 northwest of Bolkhov 67 20 August 1943 18:24 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51844vicinity of Bogodukhov 27 21 July 1943 19:52 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54655 west-southwest of Bolkhov 68 21 August 1943 06:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51672 north of Bogodukhov 28 31 July 1943 09:43? LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54861 southwest of Bolkhov 69 21 August 1943 07:02 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51643south of Grayvoron 29 1 August 1943 14:16 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54652 west-southwest of Bolkhov 70 21 August 1943 16:00 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 51544northeast of Bogodukhov 30 2 August 1943 17:07 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54663 southwest of Bolkhov 71 22 August 1943 07:35 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51572northeast of Bogodukhov 31 2 August 1943 17:09 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54543 north-northeast of Karachev 72 22 August 1943 10:24 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51513area northeast of Bogodukhov 32 3 August 1943 14:06 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53121 east-southeast of Tschaikowka 73 22 August 1943 14:25 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 60242Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 33 3 August 1943 16:42 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54724 northeast of Woronowo 74♠ 23 August 1943 06:20 Boston PQ 35 Ost 41654 34 3 August 1943 17:14 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54173 north-northwest of Karachev 75♠ 23 August 1943 06:25 Boston PQ 35 Ost 41663 35♠ 4 August 1943 11:52 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54583 northeast of Karachev 76♠ 23 August 1943 06:28 Boston PQ 35 Ost 51514northeast of Bogodukhov 36♠ 4 August 1943 11:53 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54723 northeast of Woronowo 77♠ 23 August 1943 17:02 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 60762 northeast of Kharkov 37♠ 4 August 1943 12:01 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54693 south-southwest of Bolkhov 78♠ 23 August 1943 17:04 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 61813 southwest of Vovchansk 38♠ 4 August 1943 12:06 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54522 north-northeast of Karachev 79♠ 23 August 1943 17:06 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61744 south-southeast of Zolochiv 39♠ 4 August 1943 15:33 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 54573 north-northeast of Karachev 80 21 September 1943 13:32 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 12461 40♠ 4 August 1943 18:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44571 north-northeast of Karachev 81 21 September 1943 13:34 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 12463 41 6 August 1943 12:20? Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 44663 north-northwest of Karachev 82 22 September 1943 14:42 Il-2? PQ 35 Ost 12483 42 6 August 1943 12:56 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 54591 northeast of Karachev 83 26 September 1943 09:59 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 15667 west of Schatalowka 43 7 August 1943 08:53 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54594 northeast of Karachev – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Defense of the Reich — December 1943 – 6 March 1944 84 20 December 1943 12:04 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/DSvicinity of Bremen 85? 11 January 1944 11:30 B-17

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