Step father George Schutt, sister Maxine, mother Martha, and Norm
Lt. Norman Quast Reported Missing
Bay Cityan Was Co-Pilot of Flying Fortress
Overseas only since June, Second Lieut. Norman A. E. Quast, 23-year-old B-17 Flying Fortress co-pilot, has been reported as missing after a flight over Germany on July 29, just two days after he had written his last letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schutt, 919 Ketchum street.
Shortly after going into action with the Eighth Air Force, Lieut. Quast had reported that his initial operations were marked "with the absence of Nazi fighter planes." In his first flights, he said, the fliers had encountered little enemy action with the exception of sporadic flak concentrations.
The youth, a Junior College graduate, has been in the armed service since February 1943, and received his wings at George Field, Ill. in February. He took his advanced training at MacDill Field, Fla. He was born in Bay City, Nov. 4, 1920.
Lieut. Quast has a step-brother, Robert Schutt, in the armed forces. He is serving with a naval medical unit as a pharmacists mate, third class, in Marine action in the Southwest Pacific.
Lieut. Quast was on duty with a Fortress group which holds a presidential citation for gallantry in action. His veteran organization has sent bombs falling on enemy targets ranging from industrial objectives at Berlin to military installations along the French coast, including robot plane sites. - Bay City Times - August 1944
Bob Schutt – Paris Island – Jan. 1944
Step brother to Norman Quast
Broadcast Reveals Lieut. Quast Is Safe
Through an intercepted enemy propaganda broadcast from Germany, the War Department has informed Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schutt, 919 Ketchum street, that their son, Lt. Norman A. E. Quast, is "safe and sound" after being shot down over Germany on July 29.
Lt. Quast is held at German prison camp, Stalag Luft, 1, and he reports that "the Red Cross has been wonderful." Co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress, he asked in the broadcast that "friends write to me."
Overseas only since June, Lt. Quast was on duty with a Fortress group which holds a presidential citation for gallantry in action. He has been in the service since February, 1943, and received his wings at George Field, Ill. - Bay City Times - August 1944
Bay City Flier is Prisoner of War
Reported Missing, Lt. Quast Is Held by Nazis
Second Lieut. Norman A. E. Quast, who had previously been reported as missing in action as the result of a flight over Germany July 29, is a prisoner of the Germans, according to word which reached his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schutt, 919 Ketchum street, through the International Red Cross service. Lieut. Quast, 23, was co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress.
Overseas only since June, Lieut. Quast was on duty with a Fortress group which holds a presidential citation for gallantry in action. He has been in the service since February, 1943, and received his wings at George Field, Ill.
Lieut. Quast has a step-brother, Robert Schutt, who is serving with a naval medical unit in the Southwest Pacific. His last letter to his parents was written just two days before his crew left on their mission over Germany. He was serving with the Eighth Air Force. - Bay City Times - August 24, 1944
Dear Folks: Just a souvenir from a German prison camp and a few words to tell you I am safe and in the best of health. We play softball, football, etc. plus bridge, pinochle, checkers, chess but our playing cards are not very plentiful. I think I'll see you for Christmas, but hope we'll be celebrating my birthday, when the time comes, in Bay City. Don't worry about me because I'm well taken care of. - Your nephew - Norman
He was awarded an Air Medal, Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and a Campaign Medal. The Air Medal was given to his mother in ceremonies at Selfridge Air Force Base while Norman was still a prisoner of war.
3 Local Heroes to Be Honored
Decorations Will Go to Next-of-kin
Three Bay City and county servicemen will be honored among 90 Michigan heroes in a "next-of-kin" ceremony to be held at Selfridge Field Friday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock in front of base headquarters.
Because of the number of awards and decorations to be presented, three specific ceremonies are planned with Col. Bradford A. Shaw, base commander, Lieut.-Col. Joseph C. Quirk, and Lieut.-Col. William P. Hall, Jr., officiating.
The three to be honored from here include Lieut. Albert E. Joynt whose father, Robert A. Joynt, 605 North Erie avenue, will receive the Air medal; Tech. Sgt. John D. Bacon, whose mother, Mrs. Rowena K. Bacon, of Auburn, will receive the Air medal and three Oak Leaf clusters; and Lieut. Norman E. Quast, whose mother, Mrs. Martha L. Schutt, 919 Ketchum street, will receive the Air medal.
Lieut. Joynt, who has been reported missing in action, has been given his award for "meritorious achievement in accomplishing with distinction several aerial operational missions over enemy-occupied continental Europe. The courage, coolness, and skill displayed by him in the face of determined opposition materially aided in the successful completion of these missions."
Lieut. Quast, reported a prisoner of war, has been honored for "meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombardment missions over enemy-occupied continental Europe. The courage, coolness, and skill displayed by this officer upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States."
The award to Sgt. Bacon, who is reported to be a prisoner of war, similarly phrased for "meritorious achievement," results from his work in "several aerial operational missions over enemy-occupied Europe." He too, is lauded for "courage, coolness, and skill," in the citation. - Bay City Times - April 1945