to Mamaia, the northern district of Constanța on the Black Sea coast. There, Wachowiak claimed his first two aerial victories on 24 June. He was credited with shooting down two Soviet Ilyushin DB-3 bombers in the morning near Constanța. Two days later, he claimed another DB-3 bomber in the same combat area. The Gruppe moved to Belaya Tserkov on 1 August and also used an airfield at Yampil from 6 to 8 August. There, Wachowiak claimed two Polikarpov I-16 fighter on 4 August near Kiev. Five days later, he was credited with a Tupolev SB-2 bomber. On 17 August, Wachowiak shot down a Polikarpov I-15 fighter. On 27 August, III. Gruppe had reached an airfield named Stschastliwaja located approximately east-southeast of Oleksandriia where they stayed until 12 September. Wachowiak was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () 5 April 1942 following his 46th aerial victory. Instructor, Western Front and death In 1943 and early 1944, Wachowiak served as a fighter pilot instructor. While serving with II. Gruppe of Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 1 (EJG 1—1st Supplementary Fighter Wing), a Luftwaffe replacement training unit, he trained Croatian fighter pilots of the Croatian Air Force Legion at Saint-Jean-d'Angély. Some of these pilots later served with 15. Staffel of JG 52. In May 1944, Wachowiak was posted to 7. Staffel of JG 52. At the time, III. Gruppe was based at Cape Chersonez located at the Sevastopol Bay. He claimed first aerial victory following his tour as a fighter pilot instructor on 6 May over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. The following day, he was credited with the destruction of a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter. The Gruppe then relocated a few times before moving to an airfield at Roman on 18 May. There, Wachowiak claimed his last documented aerial victory when he shot down a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber on 29 May. The Staffel, under the commanded by Oberleutnant Eberhard Fischler Graf von Treuberg, was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and transferred west to fight in Defense of the Reich. The Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) led by Major Karl-Heinz Langer. There, the Staffel was later redesignated and became the 12. Staffel of JG 3. The transfer order had been issued on 29 May. The pilots and ground staff were taken by train to Salzwedel. The Staffel was then ordered to Chartres Airfield. Wachowiak was killed in