Walter Loos

Walter Loos
File:Walter Loos.jpg
Born	(1923-04-11)11 April 1923 Oppenheim, Germany
Died	Landsberg am Lech, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht) Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Years of service	1939–45 1956–76
Rank	Oberfeldwebel (Wehrmacht) Hauptmann (Bundeswehr)
Unit	JG 3, JG 300, JG 301
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Front Western Front Defence of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Walter Loos (11 April 1923 – 27 October 2004) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 38 aerial victories in 66 missions.

Career

After flying training he was sent to III./Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) in January 1944. He reached his first victory in the aerial battle over Berlin on 6 March 1944, when shot down a United States Army Air Forces B-17 Flying Fortress. Later he was transferred to IV. Sturmgruppe/JG 3. In July 1944, Loos joined Jagdgeschwader 300 (JG 300) Geschwaderstab. On 29 September was awarded the German Cross in Gold. In October 1944, was posted to undertake instructing duties with Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost. Loos returned to combat duty with JG 301. With this unit he flew the Focke-Wulf Ta 152 for the first time at Soltau-Hannover. Flying the Ta 152, Loos gained four victories over Russians around Berlin in the last days of the war. On 20 April 1945, Walter Loos was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 36 victories.

Walter Loos flew 66 combat missions and is credited 38 confirmed victories and 8 unconfirmed. 30 aircraft were claimed on the Western Front, including 22 four-engined bombers. He himself was shot down nine times.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Silver
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (8 August 1944)
• German Cross in Gold on 29 September 1944 as Feldwebel in Stab/Jagdgeschwader 300
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 April 1945 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the Stab/Jagdgeschwader 300