Joachim Wandel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joachim Wandel
Nickname(s)"Gnom"
Born7 May 1914
Schlochau
Died7 October 1942(1942-10-07) (aged 28)
Ostashkov, Russia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchArmy
Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1935–42
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitCondor Legion
JG 54
Battles/wars
See battles

Spanish Civil War

World War II

AwardsSpanish Cross in Silver with Swords
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Joachim "Gnom" Wandel (7 May 1914 – 7 October 1942) was a 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. Joachim Wandel was killed on 7 October 1942 when he was shot down and crashed near Ostashkov, Russia. He was credited with 75 victories, two over the Western Front and 73 over the Eastern Front.

Early life and career[]

Wandel was born on 7 May 1914 in Schlochau, present-day Człuchów in northwestern Poland, at the time in the Province of West Prussia. Wandel had a younger brother Friedrich-Wilhelm who died of wounds on 26 October 1943.[1][Note 1]

During the Spanish Civil War, Wandel volunteered for service with the Condor Legion in late 1936, a unit composed of volunteers from the Luftwaffe and from the Army which served with the Nationalists. There, he was assigned to 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group). With this unit, he participated in the Bombing of Guernica on 26 April 1937. On 13 May, Wandel was shot down in his Heinkel He 51 by anti-aircraft artillery near Bilbao and taken prisoner of war.[3][4][5]

For his services in Spain, Wandel received the Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Silber mit Schwertern) and was posted to 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing).[3] In May 1939, this unit, which consited of one Gruppe (group), was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 and E-3. On 17 August, the Gruppe was ordered from its home airfield at Wien-Aspern to Stubendorf, present-day Izbicko in south-western Poland.[6]

World War II[]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Wandel was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2. Staffel of JG 76 on 1 March 1940. He succeeded Oberleutnant Anton Mader who was transferred.[7] In April 1940, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Mainz-Finthen, originally named Fliegerhorst Ober-Olm. The Gruppe stayed at Ober-Olm until the Battle of France began.[8]

On 5 June 1940, Wandel claimed his first victory when he shot down a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter near Amiens.[9] He claimed one further victory before the Armistice of 22 June 1940, a Hawker Hurricane fighter shot down south of Dieppe on 7 June.[10] The Hurricane possibly belonged to the Royal Air Force No. 43 or No. 601 Squadron.[11] On 26 June 1940, I. Gruppe of JG 76 was moved to the airfield at Waalhaven in the Netherlands and subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). There, the Gruppe was tasked with providing aerial protection over the Dutch coastal area. On 5 July, I./JG 76 was officially integrated into JG 54 and was renamed to II./JG 54 and 2./JG 76 became 5./JG 54.[12] On 31 July 1940, Wandel was transferred to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) at Zerbst. As a result, command of 5. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Roloff von Aspern.[13]

War against the Soviet Union[]

Wandel returned to JG 54 in late 1941 where he served as an adjutant to the Grupenstab (headquarters unit) of II. Gruppe.[3] At the time, II. Gruppe was commanded by Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak.[14] The Wehrmacht had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June with II. Gruppe supporting Army Group North in its strategic goal towards Leningrad. In early November, the Gruppe had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front for a period of rest and replenishment where they were based at airfields in Döberitz, and later at Uetersen. On 20 January 1942, the Gruppe began relocating to the Eastern Front where they would be based at Siverskaya near Leningrad.[15]

On 21 April 1942, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Späte, the commander of 5. Staffel of JG 54 was transferred. In consequence, Wandel succeeded Späte as Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel.[14] On 21 August, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).[16] Wandel was shot down and killed in action with Soviet Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighters on 7 October 1942. His Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 10353—factory number) crashed northeast of Ostashkov.[17][18] He was replaced by Leutnant Horst Hannig as commander of 5. Staffel the following day.[19]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

According to Spick, Wandel was credited with 75 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in an unknown number of combat missions, including 16 during nocturnal combat.[20] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 74 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure of confirmed claims includes 72 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and two on the Western Front.[21]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 18282". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.[22]

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wandel an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in one day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Matthews and Foreman.

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 76 –[23]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 5 June 1940 11:00 M.S.405 Amiens[9] 2 7 June 1940 20:45 Hurricane south of Dieppe[10]
– Stab of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[24]
Eastern Front — 20 January – 23 April 1942
3 10 February 1942 16:16 I-16[25] 12 23 March 1942 14:43 Il-2 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Staraya Russa[26]
4 27 February 1942 08:25 I-18 (MiG-1) 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Kirishi[26] 13 26 March 1942 10:45 I-18 (MiG-1)[26]
5 5 March 1942 14:40 Pe-2[26] 14 26 March 1942 10:45 I-18 (MiG-1)[26]
6 13 March 1942 16:50 I-26 (Yak-1)[26] 15 28 March 1942 15:18 I-18 (MiG-1) Ramuschewo[26]
7 15 March 1942 11:25 I-18 (MiG-1)[26] 16 29 March 1942 15:37 I-18 (MiG-1) 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Staraya Russa[27]
8 15 March 1942 16:24 I-26 (Yak-1) east of Sawisha[26] 17 4 April 1942 12:06 I-18 (MiG-1)[27]
9 16 March 1942 16:15 biplane (Seversky)[26] 18 4 April 1942 15:17 Il-2[27]
10 17 March 1942 11:25 Pe-2[26] 19 23 April 1942 18:40 Yak-1[28]
11 19 March 1942 17:08 I-18 (MiG-1) 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Gremjatschewo[26]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[24]
Eastern Front — 24 – 30 April 1942
20 25 April 1942 13:16 Il-2[28] 22 28 April 1942 09:32 Yak-1 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Ramuschewo[28]
21 25 April 1942 13:17 Il-2 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Ramuschewo[28]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[29]
Eastern Front — 1 May – 7 October 1942
23 7 May 1942 15:50 Yak-1 north of Demyansk[30] 50 20 July 1942 01:15 U-2[31] Ramuschewo[32]
24 9 May 1942 13:25 Il-2[30] 51 3 August 1942 01:35 U-2[33] PQ 18282[34]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa
25 20 May 1942 11:06 Pe-2[35] 52 3 August 1942 01:45 U-2[33] PQ 18282[34]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa
26 20 May 1942 11:07 Pe-2[35] 53 3 August 1942 02:00 U-2 northeast of Ramuschewo[34][33]
27 29 May 1942 10:26 MiG-3[35] 54 6 August 1942 19:35 Yak-1 PQ 4786[34]
28 2 June 1942 08:45 Pe-2[35] 55 7 August 1942 18:07 Yak-1 PQ 57514[34]
29 2 June 1942 08:46 Pe-2[35] 56 8 August 1942 19:37 R-5 PQ 46223[34]
25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Zubtsov
30 3 June 1942 15:20 Yak-1[35] 57♠ 9 August 1942 10:10 MiG-3 PQ 47814[34]
vicinity of Zubtsov
31 7 June 1942 08:12 Il-2[35] 58♠ 9 August 1942 10:18 MiG-3 PQ 47881[34]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Zubtsov
32 9 June 1942 10:05 Pe-2[35] 59♠ 9 August 1942 13:50 MiG-3 north of Jakowlew[34]
33 9 June 1942 10:06 Pe-2[35] 60♠ 9 August 1942 13:52 MiG-3 PQ 56163[34]
34 14 June 1942 19:23 Il-2[35] 61♠ 9 August 1942 14:12 MiG-3 PQ 47821[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Zubtsov
35 16 June 1942 18:23 Yak-1[35] 62 10 August 1942 18:49 MiG-3 PQ 47551[36]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Rzhev
36 26 June 1942 00:25 U-2[35] 63 10 August 1942 18:57 MiG-3 PQ 47551[36]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Rzhev
37 26 June 1942 00:40 R-5[35] 64 11 August 1942 08:48 Yak-1?[Note 2] PQ 47481[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Staritsa
38 6 July 1942 23:50 U-2 Demyansk[35][38] 65 12 August 1942 18:55 Yak-1 PQ 54274[36]
35 km (22 mi) west of Belyov
39♠ 7 July 1942 00:05 TB-3 (Ant-6) Kraseja[32][38] 66 12 August 1942 18:57 Yak-1 PQ 54242[36]
25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Sukhinichi
40♠ 7 July 1942 00:32 U-2 Kraseja[32][31] 67 14 August 1942 18:45 Yak-1 PQ 54223[36]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Sukhinichi
41♠ 7 July 1942 00:56 U-2 Ramuschewo[32][31] 68 18 August 1942 08:58 I-16 PQ 54221[39]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Sukhinichi
42♠ 7 July 1942 22:50 SB-2 Korostyn[32][31] 69 18 August 1942 11:55 Yak-1 PQ 54223[39]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Sukhinichi
43♠ 7 July 1942 23:09 U-2 Ramuschewo[32][31] 70 18 August 1942 17:05?[Note 3] I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 55842[39]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sukhinichi
44♠ 7 July 1942 23:18 U-2 Ramuschewo[32][31] 71 19 August 1942 10:05 Yak-1 PQ 55874[39]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Sukhinichi
45 8 July 1942 00:33 U-2 Ramuschewo[32][31] 72 19 August 1942 10:10 Yak-1 PQ 55874[39]
35 km (22 mi) south-southeast of Wenden
46?[Note 4] 13 July 1942 night MiG-3 Leningrad[32] 73 26 August 1942 08:46 LaGG-3 PQ 47672[41]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Rzhev
47 18 July 1942 17:34 Yak-1 east of Wjasma[32] 74 6 October 1942 09:25 Il-2 PQ 38861[42]
45 km (28 mi) east of Ostashkov
48 18 July 1942 18:11 LaGG-3 Koscheljewo[32] 75 7 October 1942 10:30 LaGG-3 PQ 3881[42]
southeast of Lake Ilmen
49 20 July 1942 00:25 U-2[31] Ramuschewo[32]

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Hauptmann Friedrich-Wilhelm Wandel, as commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 347 of the 197th Infantry Division, was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 October 1943.[2]
  2. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.[37]
  3. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 17:15.[40]
  4. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[37]
  5. ^ According to Obermaier on 28 May 1942.[3]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer on 23 August 1942.[1]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 767.
  2. ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 436.
  3. ^ a b c d Obermaier 1989, p. 220.
  4. ^ Laureau 2010, p. 111.
  5. ^ Southworth 2021, p. 17.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2000a, p. 264.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 439.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 438.
  9. ^ a b Prien et al. 2000b, p. 377.
  10. ^ a b Prien et al. 2000b, p. 378.
  11. ^ Cull 2013, chpt. V.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 304.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 310.
  14. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 216.
  15. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 209.
  16. ^ Weal 2001, p. 59.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 162.
  18. ^ Weal 2007, p. 29.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 140.
  20. ^ Spick 1996, p. 237.
  21. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1375–1377.
  22. ^ Planquadrat.
  23. ^ a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1375.
  24. ^ a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1375–1376.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 220.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2005, p. 222.
  27. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 223.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2005, p. 224.
  29. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1376–1377.
  30. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 144.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 50.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2006, p. 146.
  33. ^ a b c Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 54.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2006, p. 147.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2006, p. 145.
  36. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 148.
  37. ^ a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1376.
  38. ^ a b Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 49.
  39. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 149.
  40. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 1377.
  41. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 151.
  42. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 154.
  43. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 212.
  44. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 495.

Bibliography[]

  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  • Cull, Brian (2013). First of the Few: 5 June – July 1940. Stroud, UK: Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-78155-116-5.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Foreman, John; Matthews, Johannes; Parry, Simon (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
  • Laureau, Patrick (2010) [2000]. Condor: The Luftwaffe in Spain, 1936–39. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0688-9.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Southworth, Herbert (2021). Guernica! Guernica! A Study of a Journalism, Diplomacy, Propaganda, and History. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-33636-0.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
  • Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
Retrieved from ""