Werner Quast

Werner Hermann Quast (21 June 1920 – 12 July 1962) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Following a mid-air collision on 7 August 1943, he was taken prisoner by Soviet forces and was held until 1949. He joined the postwar Luftwaffe in 1956 and died in a helicopter accident in Mittenwald on 12 July 1962. During his career he was credited with 84 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front.

Career Quast was born on 21 June 1920 in Thale of the Weimar Republic. Following flight training, he was posted to the 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in the summer of 1942. At the time, the Staffel was under the command of Oberleutnant Gerhard Barkhorn and subordinated to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 52 headed by Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff.

War against the Soviet Union In August 1942, II. Gruppe was subordinated to VIII. Fliegerkorps and supported the 6th Army offensive to capture Stalingrad. On 20 August, II. Gruppe reached the airfield at Tusov, approximately southwest of Kalach-na-Donu on the western bank of the Don, from where the Gruppe operated in the combat area of Stalingrad. Flying from this airfield, Quast claimed his first aerial victory on 23 August when he shot down a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter. Six days later, Quast claimed two further LaGG fighters in the same combat area.

In September 1942, II. Gruppe was ordered into the Battle of the Caucasus, supporting Army Group South on the front over the Caucasus. Opposing it was the 4th and 5th Air Armies of the Red Air Force. The Gruppe then moved to Maykop located in the North Caucasus on 21 September where, with the exception of 24 to 29 October, they were based until 26 November. Operating from Maykop, Quast claimed his fourth and fifth aerial victory when he again claimed two LaGG fighters shot down on 7 October. To support the German forces fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad forced the Luftwaffe to relocate its forces and ordered II. Gruppe to move from Maykop to Morozovsk, located approximately west of Stalingrad, on 26 November.

Kuban bridgehead and Crimea

The Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead on 10 February 1943 where it was initially based at an airfield at Slavyansk-na-Kubani. Due to whether conditions, II. Gruppe then moved to Kerch on 16 February. While based at Slavyansk-na-Kubani, Quast claimed three aerial victories on 11 February including two Polikarpov I-16 fighters. The next day, he shot down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft followed by four fighters claimed destroyed on 13 February. Operating from Kerch, Quast claimed a I-16 fighter shot down on 25 February and a LaGG-3 fighter the next day followed by a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber on 5 March. On 13 March, the Gruppe moved to Anapa located on the northern coast of the Black Sea near the Sea of Azov and was fighting in the Battle of the Caucasus.

Flying from Anapa, Quast sank a Soviet motor torpedo boat of the Black Sea Fleet in the area of Gelendzhik on 20 April 1943. By end-April 1943, credited with 38 aerial victories, Quast had become the fourth highest scoring active fighter pilot of II. Gruppe of JG 52. At the time, the most successful fighter pilots of the Gruppe were Oberleutnant Heinz Schmidt with 130 aerial victories to date, Oberleutnant Barkhorn with 124 claims to date, followed by Leutnant Helmut Haberda with 49 aerial victories. By the end of May, Quast had moved into third place within II. Gruppe, his number of aerial victories had increased to 52 claims. In June, his number of aerial victories had reached 65 claims. For this, Quast was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 25 June. On 23 July, he received the German Cross in Gold .

On 7 August, Quast claimed three aerial victories over Yakovlev Yak-1 fighters on an early morning mission in the vicinity southwest of Novorossiysk. During this aerial combat, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15844—factory number) collided with the debris of his third claim. He bailed out approximately southwest of Novorossiysk over the Black Sea and was taken prisoner of war. During his captivity, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 December 1943 in absentia. The Soviets released him as a prisoner of war in 1949.

Later life and death Following World War II, Quast joined the post-war Bundesluftwaffe as a Hauptfeldwebel (master sergeant). On 12 July 1962, Quast was killed in a flying accident when the Aérospatiale Alouette III light utility helicopter, on which he was riding as a passenger, flew into a cable near Mittenwald killing all on board. He is listed on the Ehrenmal der Bundeswehr (Bundeswehr Memorial).

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Quast was credited with 84 aerial victories. Spick also lists Quast with 84 aerial victories claimed in an unknown combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 84 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 49342". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — August 1942 – 3 February 1943 1 23 August 1942 09:40 LaGG-3 PQ 49342south of Stalingrad 4 7 October 1942 13:26 LaGG-3 PQ 95674, Gunaiberg northeast of Tuapse 2 29 August 1942 06:15 LaGG-3 PQ 49212northeast of Grebenka 5 7 October 1942 13:35 LaGG-3 PQ 95674, Gunaiberg northeast of Tuapse 3 29 August 1942 06:17 LaGG-3 PQ 49212northeast of Grebenka – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Eastern Front — 4 February – 7 August 1943 6 11 February 1943 07:25 I-153 PQ 34 Ost 8537, Gelendzhik east of Novocherkassk 46 26 May 1943 16:20? Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75892Black Sea, south of Gelendzhik 7 11 February 1943 10:45 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 75461Black Sea, west of Kabardinka 47 28 May 1943 09:34 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76892, northeast of Kijewskojevicinity of Kijewskoje 8 11 February 1943 11:05 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 75452 south of Novorossiysk 48♠ 30 May 1943 07:23 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 75152vicinity of Anapa 9 12 February 1943 13:15 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 85433south of Stawropoliskaja 49♠ 30 May 1943 07:38 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75182vicinity of Kutak 10 13 February 1943 07:30 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 85414over sea, southwest of Anapa 50♠ 30 May 1943 07:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 7536 11 13 February 1943 07:33 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 85442east of Krassnyi 51♠ 30 May 1943 15:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76884vicinity of Gostagejewo 12 13 February 1943 07:35 I-153 over hight 591 52♠ 30 May 1943 15:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76864, Krugliknorth of Kessjetowa 13 13 February 1943 13:37 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8592 southeast of Novocherkassk 53 31 May 1943 10:43 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86721southeast of Slavyansk-na-Kubani 14 25 February 1943 07:15 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 75423southwest of Novorossiysk 54 3 June 1943 10:55 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 86772south of Trojzkaja 15 26 February 1943 10:47 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75464, southeast of KabardinkaBlack Sea, west of Kabardinka 55 3 June 1943 18:37 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75231, northwest of Krymskajanorthwest of Krymsk 16 5 March 1943 09:40 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 76732south of Ssewernije 56 4 June 1943 05:40 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 86723vicinity of Tichonowskij 17 28 March 1943 05:30 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 76691west of Slavyansk-na-Kubani 57 4 June 1943 10:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85113east of Krymsk 18 28 March 1943 05:50 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 86572north of Slavyansk-na-Kubani 58 5 June 1943 11:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85141east of Krymsk 19 29 March 1943 15:12 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 76692vicinity of Deaschi 59 5 June 1943 18:50 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 75232, southeast of Kijewskojenorth of Krymsk 20 29 March 1943 15:15 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 86543west of Krassnoarmejskaja 60 8 June 1943 09:23 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76821vicinity of Kalabatka 21 30 March 1943 06:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8654 61 9 June 1943 18:30 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 85111vicinity of Krasshyj Golubowski 22 30 March 1943 06:30 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8652 62 10 June 1943 06:31 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85111vicinity of Krasshyj Golubowski 23 11 April 1943 05:48 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86584east of Slavyansk-na-Kubani 63 10 June 1943 11:50 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 76894, east of Kijewskojevicinity of Kijewskoje 24 15 April 1943 12:29 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 85141east of Krymsk 64 10 June 1943 11:52 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 85111vicinity of Krasshyj Golubowski 25 18 April 1943 14:52 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 86794east of Mingrelskaya 65 13 June 1943 10:42 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 86774vicinity of Bondarenka 26 19 April 1943 16:43 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75424 east of Novorossiysk 66 16 July 1943 06:25 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 85122vicinity of Sswobodnyj 27 19 April 1943 16:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75434vicinity of Kabardinka 67 16 July 1943 14:32 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66632 28 21 April 1943 08:48 P-40 PQ 34 Ost 75434vicinity of Kabardinka 68 21 July 1943 16:42 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75351over sea, south of Anapa 29 21 April 1943 09:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75462, west of Kabardinkavicinity of Kabardinka 69♠ 22 July 1943 07:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75232, southeast of Kijewskojenorth of Krymsk 30 27 April 1943 14:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85154vicinity of Achtyrskaja 70♠ 22 July 1943 07:14 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85121vicinity of Sswobodnyj 31 27 April 1943 17:06 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85172vicinity of Beregowoj 71♠ 22 July 1943 11:35 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85141east of Krymsk 32 27 April 1943 17:20 Yak-1? PQ 34 Ost 85213vicinity of Rekrowski 72♠ 22 July 1943 11:45 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 75231, northwest of Krymskajanorthwest of Krymsk 33 28 April 1943 11:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85183vicinity of Erwinskij 73♠ 22 July 1943 16:19 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75232, southeast of Kijewskojenorth of Krymsk 34 29 April 1943 08:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85112east of Mertschanskaja 74♠ 22 July 1943 18:32 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 76891vicinity of Kijewskoje 35 29 April 1943 08:52 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85124northeast of Sorin 75 23 July 1943 17:24 Il-2 m.H. PQ 34 Ost 76894, east of Kijewskojevicinity of Kijewskoje 36 29 April 1943 09:09? Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85142vicinity of Beregowoj 76 23 July 1943 17:28 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 86773, northeast of Kijewskojenortheast of Krymsk 37 29 April 1943 13:20 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86792, northeast of Mingrelskajasouth of Fedorowskaja 77 30 July 1943 06:41 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76894, east of Kijewskojevicinity of Krymsk 38 30 April 1943 10:22 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85153vicinity of Abinsk 78 30 July 1943 10:43 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75234, west of Kijewskojevicinity of Kijewskoje 39 4 May 1943 15:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75442, west of GelendzhikBlack Sea, southwest of Novorossiysk 79 2 August 1943 08:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76821vicinity of Kalabatka 40 5 May 1943 15:35 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75262south of Krymsk 80 6 August 1943 15:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75171, west of Anapaover sea, southwest of Anapa 41 11 May 1943 07:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85111vicinity of Krasshyj Golubowski 81 6 August 1943 15:17 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75494Black Sea, southwest of Gelendzhik 42 23 May 1943 05:42 P-40 PQ 34 Ost 85281south of Slavyansk-na-Kubani 82 7 August 1943 06:24? Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75321over sea, south of Anapa 43 23 May 1943 05:55 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85343south of Tscheschskij 83 7 August 1943 06:35 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75392over sea, southeast of Anapa 44 26 May 1943 11:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75231northwest of Krymsk 84 7 August 1943 06:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75612vicinity of Wassiljewka 45 26 May 1943 13:12 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85111vicinity of Krasshyj Golubowski

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st Class (19 March 1943) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 25 June 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 23 July 1943 as Feldwebel in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 52 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 December 1943 as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 52