5 March followed by an I-26 fighter, an early German designation for a Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter, on 13 March. Two days later, he claimed an I-18 fighter and an I-26 fighter destroyed. On 16 March, Wandel claimed an unidentified biplane shot down followed by a Pe-2 bomber the next day and an I-18 fighter on 19 March. On 20 March 1942, II. Gruppe moved to Rjelbitzi Airfield, located north of Dno and west-southwest of Soltsy on the northern bank of the Shelon. Here, the Gruppe supported German forces fighting in the Demyansk Pocket and Kholm Pocket. Here, Wandel claimed an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down near Staraya Russa on 23 March. Two days later, he claimed two I-18 fighters shot down and again an I-18 fighter on 28 March neat Ramushevo on the Lovat south of Lake Ilmen. The next day, he clamied another I-18 fighter. On 4 April, Wandel reported an 1-18 fighter and an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down. On 23 April, he was credited with a Yak-1 destroyed. Squadron leader and death On 21 April, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Späte, the commander of 5. Staffel of JG 54 was transferred. In consequence, Wandel succeeded Späte as Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel. In combat south of Lake Ilmen, wandel claimed his first two aerial as Staffelkapitän on 25 April when he shot down two Il-2 ground-attack. In July 1942, II. Gruppe was re-equipped with the Bf 109 G-2. Wandel then became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 7 July when he shot down six Soviet aircraft. Wandel again became an "ace-in-a-day" on 9 August during the Battle of Rzhev. That day, he claimed five Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighters shot down near Zubtsov. On 12 August, 5. Staffel was detached from II. Gruppe and sent to Oryol where they were based at an airfield named Oryol-West. On 21 August, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (). On 7 October, Wandel claimed his 75th and last aerial victory when he shot down a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter near Ostashkov. He was then shot down and killed in action with other Soviet LaGG-3 fighters. His Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 10353—factory number) crashed northeast of Ostashkov. He was replaced by Leutnant Horst Hannig as commander of 5. Staffel the following day. Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Spick, Wandel was credited with 75 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in