Fritz Losigkeit

Infobox Military Person
name=Fritz Losigkeit
lived=17 November 1913 – 14 January 1994
placeofbirth=Berlin-Tegel
placeofdeath=Hünxe


caption=Fritz Losigkeit
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=
rank=Major
commands=I./JG 1, JG 51, JG 77
unit=
battles=Spanish Civil War
World War II
*Battle of France
*Battle of Britain
*Battle of Kursk
awards=Spanish Cross in silver with swords
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
laterwork=Politician

Major Fritz Losigkeit (born 17 November, 1913 in Berlin-Tegel – died 14 January, 1994 in Hünxe) was German World War II Luftwaffe 68 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51 and Jagdgeschwader 77.

Biography

Fritz Losigkeit was born on 17 November, 1913 in Berlin-Tegel. He joined the Prussian State Police Academy and was eventually selected for flight training. After graduation, he was assigned to JG (Fighter Wing) 132, the famous Richtofen Wing. In March 1938, he was assigned to JG 88 Condor Legion flying the Heinkel He 51 during the Spanish Civil War. Shot down by 20 mm antiaircraft artillery on 31 May 1938, he 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.

Subsequently assigned to JG 26 flying the Messerschmitt Bf-109, Losigkeit scored his first victory on 28 May 1940 during the Battle of France. As the air war turned to England, he achieved four more victories to become an Flying ace in 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 assigned as a diplomatic courier to Japan. During this time and until January 1942, he practiced German air combat tactics with Japanese pilots flying the Mitsubishi and the Bf-109 fighter aircraft. Wanting to rejoin the European war, he made the treacherous voyage back to Germany via the German blockade-runner "MSS Elsa Essberger".

Travelling convert|23300|nmi|km, Losigkeit arrived in time to form up Special Command Losigkeit at the orders of General Adolf Galland. Losigkeit conducted fighter operations in Norway to support the Navy and the heavy battle cruiser Scharnhorst. After completing this special operation, he took command of IV./JG 1 at Berlin-Werneuchen, which later became I./JG 1. Deployed to bases in the West, his unit flew missions against de Havilland Mosquito reconnaissance aircraft and B-17 Flying Fortresses bound for targets in Germany. In June 1943, Major Losigkeit commanded III./JG 51 "Mölders" flying the Bf-109 in the Orel area on the Eastern Front. Fighting many severe battles during the Battle of Kursk, his unit covered the retreat of the German Army.

On 1 April 1944, he became the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 51 and continued to fight against ever increasing odds as the Russians advanced. Awarded the Knight’s Cross in April 1945, he completed the war as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 77 in Czechoslovakia. After the war, Losigkeit returned to civilian life, turning his attention to politics and business. He was a secretary in the administration of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in 1946. From 1946 until 1978, he served as a business representative and a marketing manager in a utilities company.

Fritz Losigkeit died on January 14, 1994 in Hünxe.

Awards

* Spanish Cross in silver with swords
* German Cross in Gold (17 October 1943)
* Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (28 April 1945)

References

* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.