Years of service 1939–451956–76 | Name Walter Loos | |
Born 11 April 1923Oppenheim, Germany ( 1923-04-11 ) Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany Service/branch Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht) Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr) Rank Oberfeldwebel (Wehrmacht)Hauptmann (Bundeswehr) Battles/wars World War IIEastern FrontWestern FrontDefence of the Reich Died October 27, 2004, Landsberg am Lech, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Eastern Front, Western Front, Defence of the Reich, World War II Unit Jagdgeschwader 3, Jagdgeschwader 300, Jagdgeschwader 301 Similar Günther Josten, Günther Rall, Wilhelm Batz | ||
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.
Contents
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 Erganzungs-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.