Jean Loste

Lieutenant Jean Augustin Paul Joseph Loste was a French World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He remained in service after World War I ended, finally retiring in 1930 at the rank of Chef de Bataillon.

Biography See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Jean Augustin Paul Joseph Loste was born in Toulon, France, on 2 September 1893. Loste scored his first victory on 27 July 1916. The three-place Caudron G.IV he flew was sometimes used as a gunship flying protection for other bombers. At any rate, he would score six more aerial victories by 26 January 1917.

On 26 August 1917, he was removed from combat duty and transferred to the Service des Fabrications de l'Aviation. He was seriously injured on 30 September 1917. On 17 April 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant. Assigned to develop tactics on 21 August 1918, he was injured again the same day. Upon his return to duty on 23 September 1918, he was again posted to Service des Fabrications de l'Aviation, where he ended the war.

Service after World War I Jean Loste remained in military service after World War I ended. He was promoted to Capitaine on 25 March 1926. When he retired on 1 December 1930, he received a final promotion to Chef de Bataillon.

Jean Loste died on 26 July 1960 in Bordeaux, France.

Honors and awards

Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur "A remarkably adroit and courageous pilot; has completed numerous artillery spotting, photographic, and bombing missions during the course of which he successively downed four enemy planes. In particular, on 1 November 1916, he descended to within 150 meters of the ground to shoot down his adversary in flames in its own lines. By virtue of his coolness, he was able to recross the lines and save his plane, one motor of which had been badly damaged. Cited twice in orders." Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 24 November 1916

During the postwar years, Loste would rise in rank in the Legion d'Honneur, becoming in succession over the years an Officier, a Commandeur, and a Grand Officier of the Legion.

During his wartime service, Lost had won the Croix de Guerre with five palms.

At some point, Japan awarded Loste the Order of the Rising Sun.

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