The Gaines crew trained in Tonopah, NV in the fall/winter of 1943.  They flew the Southern Ferry Route with the rest of the 458th in January 1944, arriving a bit later than many crews, due to mechanical difficulties along the way.  The exact date is not known, but it is assumed that bombardier, 2Lt Herbert E. Crandall was transferred at some point prior to the crew's embarkation from the States.  Crandall went to serve in the Pacific Theater.  The reason for his transfer is unknown.  His place was taken by 2Lt Walter E Case.

According to a letter that Dana Winters wrote to a fellow 753rd Squadron pilot long after the war, radio-operator Sgt. George Wood was killed in Norwich.  Nothing further is mentioned by Winters, and Wood's name is not on the 458th list as a casualty.  Neither does Wood's name appear in the group records, save for the caption in the crew photo. The roster of gunners from April 1, 1944 lists Sgt (later T/Sgt) William J. Spulak as the radio operator assigned to Crew 31.

The crew flew their first combat mission on March 5, 1944 to Bordeaux, France.  The next day, March 6th, was the first American raid on the German capitol of Berlin.  S/Sgt Clarence C. Daw, ball turret gunner, flew as a replacement on 2Lt Jesse McMains crew.  McMains was shot down (MACR 3349) and three, including Daw were killed in action.  Daw's place was taken by Sgt Valenti F. Yankowski.  It is assumed that Yankowski flew his missions and completed a combat tour with this crew, as there is nothing in the records to indicate this.

According to formation plans and other operational records, Gaines' crew flew a/c #735 (41-28735 S J4) on 18 of their 30+ missions.  It is not known if this aircraft had a name or if any photos exist.  The crew flew 19 missions in March, April, and May.  On the April 8th raid on Brunswick, S/Sgt Robert M. Hall was credited with a fighter damaged. 

At some point in August, Dana Winters, now flying as a first pilot, was injured and removed from flying status.  He wrote, "At about my 24th mission I fell headlong into a machine gun emplacement near our briefing room at Horsham St. Faith (2:15A.M.).  I had a bad knee cartilage from high school football and this stupid stunt managed to break the knee again.  I was in the hospital at Wymondham for many weeks.  This grounded me, but they wouldn't send me home or give me a job on the base.  I used my time to enter the London Royal Arts Academy to pursue water color.  The war slowed and they finally sent me home."