After receiving his wings Greifreiter Friedrich Wachowiak was posted to 8./JG 52 on 29 July 1940. The 8 Staffeln was by this time commanded by Oblt. Günther Rall and was just about to be engaged in the Battle of Britain. During the three weeks of fighting over France the previous months the results has been meager for III./JG 52, filing 10 claims for an own loss of three own machines. During the Battle of Britain another 10 claims was made for an own loss of 10 Me 109 in combat.

As a consequence on 1 August 1940, in the mids of the Battle the Gruppe was taken out of action for rest and refit, never to return the the channel. They were later to relocate to the East on 12 October 1940, ending up in Rumania.

Romania by now allied to Germany, German troops entered, including fighter elements from III./JG 52 equipped with the Bf 109 Emil. Soon the pilots in the Gruppe noticed that the life in Rumania was Peace-like, every restaurant and establishments were open, light flooded the street and it was like a ongoing party.

When the the invasion of the USSR commenced the III./JG 52 did not take part in the initial trust. Based in Romania they were instead tasked protecting the vital oil fields and to supervised their Rumanian allies mastering the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

This was the reason for it took eight more months before things started to heat up, when VVS long range bombers suddenly appeared over the capital Bucharest and the Rumanian oilfields. Now equipped with the latest version of the sleek Bf 109, the F-4 subtype, all with the Romanian king Michaels cross painted in front of their cockpits they eagerly awaited to participate in the invasion.

In hindsight this stay was a stroke of luck for III./JG 52 which before the transfer could be characterized as a mediocre at best, or more likely one of the worst fighter units in the Luftwaffe. Eight months later with daily tough flight training and target practice under peace-like conditions unambiguously created a homogeneous and cohesive unit ready for combat, by this time, perhaps the III/JG 52 had emerged as one of the best fighter Gruppen in the Luftwaffe.

Friedrich "Fritz" Wachowiak would file his two first claims, both DB-3 bombers attacking the oil fields and refineries. He continued to score heavily, adding another 31 Soviet aircraft up to the years end. And on on 5 April 1942 as Unteroffizier he received the covered Ritterkreuz for a total of 45 confirmed victories. And on this day, 2 May he manage to shoot down two more VVS aircraft, the first on a U-2 and the second was filed as a I-26 (Yak-1) over the Crimean peninsula, thereby claiming his 50 to 51 abschusse.

Leutnant Friedrich "Fritz" Wachowiak would fly his last combat mission over the French invasion front on 16 July 1944, killed after entering combat with Spitfire fighters from the RCAF No 403 Sqn. The number of confirmed victories attributed to Wachowiak is quoted from 120 to 140 depending on source.

Note that his "Black 4" aircraft displays the oversized wavy line and the large numeral, typical for this Gruppe. A black spinner with a 1/3 painted in yellow. Note also that most of the the large areas of the yellow recognition markings by this time have being omitted, however the underside of the engine-cowling, the fuselage-band after the fuselage cross and the undersides of the wing-tips retained the markings.

This profile would be included in my upcoming Luftwaffe fighter Book, Profile book No 18. One of seven made during the week.