Jean Loste

{{Short description|French flying ace}} {{Infobox military person | name = Jean Augustin Paul Joseph Loste | image = Jean Loste World War One Personnel French Aviator - 8091889375.jpg | caption = | birth_date = 2 September 1893 | death_date = 26 July 1960 | burial_label = | burial_place = | birth_place = Toulon, France | death_place = Bordeaux, France | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = | allegiance = France | branch = Aviation | service_years = | rank = ''Sous lieutenant'' (later ''Chef de Bataillon'') | unit = ''Escadrille C46''<br> ''Escadrille C56'' | commands = | battles = World War I | awards = ''Legion d'honneur''<br> ''Croix de Guerre'' | relations = | other_work = }}

Lieutenant '''Jean Augustin Paul Joseph Loste''' was a French World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.<ref name=aero>The Aerodrome website [http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/loste.php] Retrieved 19 August 2020.</ref> He remained in service after World War I ended, finally retiring in 1930 at the rank of ''Chef de Bataillon''.<ref name=front>''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', pp. 186 - 187</ref>

==Biography== See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

'''Jean Augustin Paul Joseph Loste''' was born in Toulon, France, on 2 September 1893.<ref name=front/>

===Service during World War I===

He had a deep interest in aviation when he was in his late teens. He pursued a pilot's license, and received a Civil Pilot's Brevet on 7 November 1913. On 23 March 1914, he followed this up by earning Seaplane Pilot's Brevet No. 1. As the First World War kindled, Loste was called to military service on 10 August 1914. Although originally assigned to aviation, he was sent to the infantry on 26 September. Recalled to aviation on 2 January 1915, he began military pilot's training. On 19 April 1915, he was granted his Military Pilot's Brevet. Without additional schooling, he was posted to ''Escadrille C.56'' just nine days later.<ref name=front/>

Loste was wounded in action on 18 June 1915. He was raised out of the enlisted ranks on 17 April 1916, being promoted to ''Sous lieutenant''. On 20 June 1916, he was transferred to ''Escadrille C46''.<ref name=front/>

Despite having been assigned to a squadron fitted for reconnaissance and bombing,<ref name=front2>''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'', p. 92.</ref> Loste scored his first victory on 27 July 1916.<ref name=front/> The three-place Caudron G.IV he flew was sometimes used as a gunship flying protection for other bombers.<ref name=front2/> At any rate, he would score six more aerial victories by 26 January 1917.<ref name=aero/><ref name=front/>

On 26 August 1917, he was removed from combat duty and transferred to the ''Service des Fabrications de l'Aviation''. He was seriously injured on 30 September 1917. On 17 April 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant. Assigned to develop tactics on 21 August 1918, he was injured again the same day. Upon his return to duty on 23 September 1918, he was again posted to ''Service des Fabrications de l'Aviation'', where he ended the war.<ref name=front/>

===Service after World War I=== Jean Loste remained in military service after World War I ended. He was promoted to ''Capitaine'' on 25 March 1926. When he retired on 1 December 1930, he received a final promotion to ''Chef de Bataillon''.<ref name=front/> Jean Loste died on 26 July 1960 in Bordeaux, France.<ref name=front/>

==Honors and awards==

''Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur''<br> "A remarkably adroit and courageous pilot; has completed numerous artillery spotting, photographic, and bombing missions during the course of which he successively downed four enemy planes. In particular, on 1 November 1916, he descended to within 150 meters of the ground to shoot down his adversary in flames in its own lines. By virtue of his coolness, he was able to recross the lines and save his plane, one motor of which had been badly damaged. Cited twice in orders." Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation, 24 November 1916<ref name=front/> During the postwar years, Loste would rise in rank in the ''Legion d'Honneur'', becoming in succession over the years an ''Officier'', a ''Commandeur'', and a ''Grand Officier'' of the Legion.<ref name=front/>

During his wartime service, Lost had won the ''Croix de Guerre'' with five palms.<ref name=front/>

At some point, Japan awarded Loste the Order of the Rising Sun.<ref name=front/>

==End notes== {{Reflist}}

==References== * Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (1993). ''Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918'' London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-948817-54-0}}.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Loste, Jean}} Category:1893 births Category:1960 deaths Category:French World War I flying aces