Gerhard Loos

Gerhard Loos (21 August 1916 – 6 March 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Loos is credited with 92 aerial victories, 14 of which claimed in Defense of the Reich.

On 6 March 1944 Loos flying a Bf 109 G-6 "RX + DL" (Werksnummer 411922 &mdash; factory number) was shot down in aerial combat near Rheinsehlen by 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 m he fell to his death.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 September 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold (17 October 1943)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 8./JG 54