My Name is Jim Spofford, The planes my father flew in during WWII were the FiFi (42-31599) Capt. Urban S. Adams, and the "House of Lords" (42-5881) Also Capt Urban Adams. In some raids Capt Steele was his Pilot, due to Capt. Adams being wounded and unable to fly. I am interested in when my father and his crew transferred to the House of Lords. FiFi was his orignal plane. My father does not recall exactly when or while he and crew were transferred, My father thinks it may of been due to the fact the FiFi was shot up so bad during a raid it was not repairable. I have found some info on the House of Lords however the crew listed is not my father's crew.  Is it possible there were 2 House of Lords? Any help would be appreciated.

Jim,
 
My reference shows that there were two planes named "The House of Lords" 42-5881 and "House of Lords" aka "Hard to Get" 42-39788. I wouldn't read too much into what crew was listed as flying on a particular plane. It was really unusual for a crew to have a plane that they called their own for any length of time. You would have to have the loading lists to be able to determine when your father changed planes. There were any number of reasons for a crew to fly different planes i.e. battle damage, regular maintenance, mission scheduled when that plane wasn't available, plane needed by another crew to fill out mission requirement when original crew wasn't scheduled. My brother flew 25 missions in 10 different planes and many others on this forum have cited similar experiences. There could have been a very few crews who flew all their missions on one plane but highly unlikely. Probably more of a Hollywood fantasy than fact that "Old Faithful" could always be depended on to bring us back.
 
Vic

Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
www.lelandwalzel.150m.com

Hi Vic
 
The B-17 named 'The House of Lords' which was connected to the Urban S. Adams crew was B-17F 42-5881 and coded XM - G. The Urban S. Adams crew was one of the original 94th BG crews who arrived in England in April 1943.
 
It is interesting to note that Roger Freeman states that B-17G 42-39788 'Hard to Get' was assigned to the 331st BG, but then was with the 332nd BS with the name 'House of Lords'. This aircraft was still with the 331st BS on April 10th 1944 when it was involved in a crash due to engine failures at take-off. The pilot was 1st Lt. William M. Williams, who eight days later became a POW.
 
Regards
 
Chris.

Jim -
According to Bits and Pieces:
# 42 - 31599 GL O
1st Name - " Boots and Her Buddies "
2d Name - " The Filthy Hag "
Shot Down by LW Fighter 10/6/44
Pilot - Lt. J. Brasher
9 POW  MACR # 9349
Mike
 

Hi Jim
 
B-17F 'FiFi' had the serial number 42-29699 and was coded XM - F. She was badly damaged on May 19th 1943 and never flew with the 94th BG again. After repairs she was transferred to the 547th BS, 384th BG on July 16th 1943 and was forced to ditch in the North Sea on September 16th 1943. She had been renamed 'Old Battle Axe' and was coded SO - D. The pilot was William H. Price and all the crew were rescued.
 
Regards
 
Chris.

Hi Mike
 
Those details are correct for 42-31599, but the pilots name on October 6th 1944 was 1st Lt. Jesse J. Brashers.
 
Regards
 
Chris.

Hi Vic
 
With regards to B-17G -1- VE serial number 42-39788 QE - O 'Hard to Get'.
 
After contacting two other 94th BG researchers to get their thoughts on this aircraft being with the 332nd BS and renamed 'House of Lords'. There are no details in the mass of 94th BG details that we have of this aircraft ever being with the 332nd BS or having the name 'House of Lords'.
 
It appears that the only sources that have this aircraft with the 332nd BS, coded XM - M and named 'House of Lords' is 'Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth' by Andrews and Adams and Roger Freeman's 'The B-17 Flying Fortress Story'.
 
A photograph which is in 'Lingering Contrails of the Big Square A', a history of the 94th BG, which is on page 168, clearly shows the aircraft code 'O' on the tail when she crash landed on April 10th 1944 and was then scrapped. The full code was QE - O.
 
I hope that this clears up any confusion with this aircraft and shows that B-17F -30- VE serial number 42-5881 was the only 'The House of Lords' which flew with the 94th BG during WWII.
 
Regards
 
Chris.