Fritz Losigkeit
| Fritz Losigkeit | |
|---|---|
Fritz Losigkeit
|
|
| Born |
17 November 1913 Berlin-Tegel |
| Died | 14 January 1994 (aged 80) Hünxe |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe
|
| Rank | Major |
| Commands held | I./JG 1, JG 51, JG 77 |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards |
Spanish Cross in silver with swords Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Other work | Politician |
Fritz Losigkeit (17 November 1913 – 14 January 1994) was a World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51 and Jagdgeschwader 77.
Losigkeit joined the Prussian State Police Academy and was eventually selected for flight training. After graduation, he was assigned to Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 132, the famous Richthofen Wing. In March 1938, he was assigned to Jagdgruppe 88 with the Condor Legion, flying the Heinkel He 51 during the Spanish Civil War. He was shot down by 20 mm antiaircraft artillery on 31 May 1938 and was captured and held prisoner of war until he escaped in February 1939. For his actions during the Civil War he was awarded the Spanish Cross in silver with swords.
He was then assigned to JG 26 flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Losigkeit scored his first victory on 28 May 1940 during the Battle of France, a Spitfire over Calais. As the air war turned to England, he achieved four more victories to become an Flying ace by 15 September 1940. For the next 8 months Losigkeit commanded 2nd Staffel of JG 26 and flew more than 100 combat missions.
In May 1941 he was reassigned as a diplomatic courier to Japan. Until January 1942 he advised on German air combat tactics with Imperial Japanese Army Air Force pilots flying the Nakajima Ki-44 against several examples of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter shipped to Japan for evaluation. Wanting to rejoin the European war, he made the voyage back to Germany via the German blockade-runner MSS Elsa Essberger.
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