Edmund Wagener's first posting was to 3./JG 2 then fighting in the French campaign. Thereafter he participated in the clash over the Channel against the RAF. However, during the September 1940 climax of the Battle of Britain he was transferred to 9./JG 51.

Uffz. Wagener claimed his first victory, his only success in the West, on 14 September 1940, by downing a Spitfire in the Dungeness area. He later participated in the attack on the Soviet Union. By this time Edmund Wagener had definitely found his "shooting eye" by scoring multiple kills daily, the first of these 'big days' coming on the second day of the conflict in the East.

On 24 June he bagged five SB-2 bombers in three separate missions. During the next two days he accounted for another five SB-2s, three on the 25th and another two on the 26th for a total of 11 confirmed victories.

Yet his most successful month as a fighter pilot was to be in October 1941. During this month, Ofw. Edmund Wagener was the most successful individual pilot in III./JG 51 with a total of 22 victories, thereby reaching a total of 51 Luftsiege.

He would claim his last and 57th victory on 12 November, a MiG-3 shot down during the early morning hours. The following day, 13 November, he intercepted some low flying Pe-2s. Pursuing the bombers at treetop level over the front lines, his Bf 109 F-2 "Yellow 1" was raked by the rear gunners' machine gun fire.

His machine was seen plunging into the ground and exploding on impact. Four days later Edmund Wagener was posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz.

Another earlier version of Wagners "Yellow 1" from October 1941 was published in profile book no 11 as profile no 26. This later version had its spinner and rudder painted in Yellow and Wagener's Abschussbalken was relocated from the vertical tailplane to the rudder.

Below the cockpit the name "Mädi" is written. Note also that this machine has an extensively overspray of greys, covering not just the yellow engine-cowling and part of the fuselage cross but also the Geschwader Falke (falcon) badge on the cowling.

Please note that during the last week I have been able to make five new profiles. This profile would be included in my Profile book No 16.