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Re: B-17 Wesel
Found some additional info in a IX Troop Carrier Command narrative (Reel C5015):
Shot down by Ack-Ack
The Fortress, which carried Hottelet and eleven military personnel, including cameramen, Public Relations and other staff members, was shot down by anti-aircraft and all passengers except the pilot, Lt Col Benton R. Baldwin, (were) forced to bail out. Colonel Baldwin escaped injury when he made a successful belly landing, with his left wing on fire.
Technical Sergeant Clarence E. Pearce, Command Public Relations correspondent, was killed when his chute failed to open properly. He was with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, IX Troop Carrier Command. The other correspondents, Robert Wilson and Captain Freidheim, also were forced to jump from the flak-ridden aircraft, but returned from the mission".
In a reporters list just above this summary, Wilson (Associated Press) and Capt. Eric Freidheim (Air Force Magazine) are mentioned to be with (or 'embedded' in today's language?) with 313 TCG, hence perhaps the association of the B-17 loss with this TCG?
Regards,
Leendert
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