On 26 April 1939 Fritz Wendel set the world air speed record of 755.138 km/h (469.221 mph), flying the Messerschmitt Me 209 V1.

On 18 July 1942 in Leipheim near Günzburg, Nazi Germany, Wendel test flew the "V3" third prototype of the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet-powered combat aircraft design.

[1] On 25 March 1942, Wendel took the first prototype Me 262V1, PC+UA, on its first jet-powered flight but the experimental BMW 003 gas turbojet engines it was fitted with both failed and he was forced to limp the prototype airframe back to Augsburg on the nose-mounted Jumo 210 inverted-V12 piston engine installed for initial airframe testing.

After the war Wendel became director of a local brewery but continued flying sports planes until a circulatory ailment forced him out of the cockpit.

Wendel was found dead at his home in Augsburg, Germany, on Sunday 9 February 1975 with a hunting rifle at his side.