Major Wendling was a member of Headquarters Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group. On 13 April 1952, he was the pilot of a F-86E Sabrejet fighter bomber from the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group. While on a combat mission, he engaged a MiG-15 south of the Yalu River. He crashed on the water near Liaotung, China. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 28 February 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Wendling was awarded the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.