Werner Quast

Werner "Quax" 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 was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. On 7 August 1943 Werner Quast rammed his BF-109 into an Il-2 Sturmovik and was forced to bail out. 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 was credited with 84 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front.

Awards

 * Flugzeugführerabzeichen
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (25 June 1943)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * German Cross in Gold on 23 July 1943 as Feldwebel in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 52
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 December 1943 as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 52