Joachim “Gnom” Wandel was born on 7 May 1914 at Schlochau in Westpreußen. Already enlisted in the army in 1935 and serving in the artillery, Oberfahnrich Wandel transferred to the Luftwaffe. On completion of his flying training he was posted to JG 132. At the end of 1936, Wandel transferred to the staff of J/88 operating in support of Franco’s Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. On 15 May 1937, Wandel was shot down by flak near Bilbao and became a prisoner of war. He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Silber mit Schwerten on his return. Wandel was serving with 2./JG 76 at the outbreak of World War 2. He participated in the invasion of Poland, the French campaign and the Battle of Britain. Oberleutnant Wandel recorded two victories during the French campaign. On 4 July 1940, 2./JG 76 was redesignated 5./JG 54. On 1 August 1940, Wandel was transferred to Jagdfliegerschule Zerbst. Wandel returned to front line duty in autumn 1941 as Adjutant to II./JG 54 based on the Eastern front. By mid-March 1942, he had 30 victories to his credit. On 21 April 1942, Wandel was appointed Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 54. Oberleutnant Wandel had 32 victories to his credit. In the summer months of 1942, Wandel was particularly succesful at night in the Leningrad area claiming 16 victories, including seven enemy aircraft on the night of 6/7 July to record his 37th through 42nd victories. He claimed 24 victories in August, including three Russian U-2 utility biplanes shot down on 3 August (50-52), five Russian MiG-3 fighters shot down on 9 August (57-61) and three Russian fighters shot down on 18 August (68-70). Hauptmann Wandel was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 23 August for 64 victories. On 7 October 1942, Wandel shot down a Russian LaGG-3 fighter northeast of Oschtaschkow for his 75th, and last, victory. He was shot down in this engagement, his Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 10 353) “Black 11” being seen to fall vertically and crash into a forest. Wandel did not bale out of his stricken aircraft.
    “Gnom” Wandel was credited with 75 victories. He recorded approximately five victories over the Western front. Of his 70 victories recorded over the Eastern front, 16 were recorded at night.
 

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location / Comments
1	5.6.1940	11:00	Morane 406	2./JG 76	Amiens
2	7.6.1940	20:45	Hurricane	2./JG 76	S Dieppe
30	15.3.1942	18:05	I-26	II./JG 54	E Saniska
31	19.3.1942	17:08	I-18	II./JG 54	1km SE Flpl. Gremjaschkowo
32	23.3.1942	14:43	Il-2	II./JG 54	15km W Staraya Russa
33	25.4.1942	-	Il-2	5./JG 54	5km E Ramenschowo
34	28.4.1942	9:32	Yak-1	5./JG 54	10km NE Dammschowo
35	7.5.1942	15:50	Yak-1	5./JG 54	N Demjansk
36	6.7.1942	23:50	U-2	5./JG 54	Demjansk
37	7.7.1942	0:05	TB-3	5./JG 54	Kraseja
38	7.7.1942	0:32	U-2	5./JG 54	Kraseja
39	7.7.1942	0:50	U-2	5./JG 54	Ramenchewo
40	7.7.1942	22:50	SB-2	5./JG 54	Koroßtya
41	7.7.1942	23:09	U-2	5./JG 54	Ramenchewo
42	7.7.1942	23:18	U-2	5./JG 54	Ramenchewo
43	8.7.1942	0:33	U-2	5./JG 54	Ramenchevo
44	17.7.1942	17:34	Yak-1	5./JG 54	Wjasowel
45	17.7.1942	18:11	LaGG-3	5./JG 54	Koscheljewo
46	18.7.1942	17:34	Yak-2	5./JG 54	E Malyushki
47	18.7.1942	18:11	LaGG-3	5./JG 54	Kochelyevo
48	20.7.1942	0:54	U-2	5./JG 54	Ramenchewo
49	20.7.1942	1:15	U-2	5./JG 54	Ramenchewo
50	3.8.1942	1:35	U-2	5./JG 54	18 828
51	3.8.1942	1:45	U-2	5./JG 54	18 828
52	3.8.1942	2:00	U-2	5./JG 54	NE Ramenchevo
53	8.8.1942	19:37	R-5	5./JG 54	36 223
54	6.8.1942	19:35	Yak-1	5./JG 54	47 860
55	7.8.1942	18:07	Yak-1	5./JG 54	57 514
56	8.8.1942	19:37	R-5	5./JG 54	46 223
57	9.8.1942	10:11	MiG-3	5./JG 54	47 814
58	9.8.1942	10:18	MiG-3	5./JG 54	47 881
59	9.8.1942	13:50	MiG-3	5./JG 54	N Jakowlew
60	9.8.1942	13:52	MiG-3	5./JG 54	56 163
61	9.8.1942	14:12	MiG-3	5./JG 54	47 821
62	10.8.1942	18:49	MiG-3	5./JG 54	47 551
63	10.8.1942	18:57	MiG-3	5./JG 54	47 551
64	11.8.1942	8:48	Yak-1	5./JG 54	47 481
65	12.8.1942	18:55	Yak-1	5./JG 54	54 274
66	12.8.1942	18:57	Yak-1	5./JG 54	54 242
67	14.8.1942	18:45	Yak-1	5./JG 54	54 223
68	18.8.1942	8:58	I-16	5./JG 54	54 221
69	18.8.1942	11:55	Yak-1	5./JG 54	54 223
70	18.8.1942	17:15	I-180	5./JG 54	55 842
71	19.8.1942	10:05	Yak-1	5./JG 54	58 874
72	19.8.1942	10:10	Yak-1	5./JG 54	58 874
73	26.8.1942	8:46	Il-2	5./JG 54	47 672
74	6.10.1942	9:25	Il-2	5./JG 54	38 861
75	7.10.1942	10:30	LaGG-3	5./JG 54	3881

Victories : 75
Awards : Ehrenpokal (28 May 1942)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (27 July 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (23 August 1942)
Units : J/88, JG 76, JG 54