The Lockridge crew was assigned to the 754th Squadron in May 1944.  The crew flew their first mission on June 5, 1944 and the next two on D-Day.  By mid-July 1944, the crew was regularly flying in the group and squadron lead positions.  As such, co-pilot William Swartz, navigator Adolph Clatchko, and bombardier John Gorman were assigned to another crew or crews in the 754th.  These three men completed their tour of missions in October 1944. Also in October the 755th Squadron became the designated lead squadron in the 458th and on the 23rd of that month all lead crews from the 752nd, 753rd, and 754th squadrons were transferred to the 755th.  All of the wing crews in the 755th were transferred to the other three squadrons.  The Lockridge crew went to the 755th on this date.  2Lt Gaston R. Feller is on the October 23rd set of orders transferring Lockridge and crew to the 755th.  Feller was assigned as part of 2Lt George T. Dwyre's crew (754th Squadron) on July 20, 1944 as either a navigator or bombardier.

Being a lead crew had its advantages and disadvantages.  It meant that one did not fly combat as often (as is evidenced by the mission list below), but there were many more training flights.  Since their missions were spread out, it meant an extended stay in England in order to complete a 30 mission tour.  Wing crews were, by this date, having to complete 35 missions in order to go home.  The hard training paid off and the Lockridge crew was awarded two "Lead Crew Commendation" certificates for meritorious achievement on a combat mission.

The crew completed their tour of mission on February 24, 1945.  This last mission was a tough one for the crew.  They were leading the entire 2nd Air Division in a strike on Bielefeld, Germany.  Leon Ottney relates in his flight log, "PFF, visual assist, lost #4 engine at bombs away, #2 & #3 losing oil.  Really sweated it out."  Even with these difficulties the crew received their second "Lead Crew Commendation" certificate for this mission.

Date	Target	A/C Serial	RCL	SQDN	A/C Name	458th Sortie #	Pilot Msn #	Lead	Command Pilot	Notes
5-Jun-1944	STELLA/PLAGE	42-95116	V	Z5	JUNIOR	55	1
6-Jun-1944	COASTAL AREAS	42-95116	J		JUNIOR	56	2			MISSION #1
6-Jun-1944	COASTAL AREAS	42-95116	V	Z5	JUNIOR	56	3			MISSION #3
8-Jun-1944	PONTAUBAULT	42-95116	V	Z5	JUNIOR	60	4
10-Jun-1944	CHATEAUDUN	42-95116	V	Z5	JUNIOR	61	5
11-Jun-1944	BEAUVAIS	42-95116	V	Z5	JUNIOR	62	6
12-Jun-1944	EVREUX/FAUVILLE	42-95116	V	Z5	JUNIOR	63	7
18-Jun-1944	WATTEN	41-28705	H	J4	YE OLDE HELLGATE	69	NTO			NO TAKE OFF
20-Jun-1944	NOBALL FRANCE	42-100362	A	Z5	SWEET LORRAINE	--	--			MISSION #3 RECALL
2-Jul-1944	COUBRONNE	42-110070	E	Z5	ELMER / LADY LUCK	83	8
13-Jul-1944	SAARBRUCKEN	42-50578	F	Z5	SKY ROOM	90	9	L2	HINCKLEY
18-Jul-1944	TROARN	42-50578	F	Z5	SKY ROOM	93	10
19-Jul-1944	KEMPTEN	42-50768	A	Z5	ARISE MY LOVE...	94	ABT	L2	HINCKLEY	ABORT
2-Aug-1944	3 NO BALLS	42-50768	A	Z5	ARISE MY LOVE...	101	11	L2	HINCKLEY
5-Aug-1944	BRUNSWICK/WAGGUM	42-50768	A	Z5	ARISE MY LOVE...	105	12	L1	LaROCHE
12-Aug-1944	MOURMELON	42-50768	A	Z5	ARISE MY LOVE...	111	13	L1	O'NEILL
15-Aug-1944	VECHTA	42-50768	A	Z5	ARISE MY LOVE…	114	14	L2	GORRELL
27-Aug-1944	FINOW	42-50516	B	Z5	STARDUST	--	15	L3	CLAGGETT	MISSION CREDIT NOV
11-Sep-1944	MAGDEBURG	42-50768	A	Z5	ARISE MY LOVE …	125	16	L2	CLAGGETT
7-Oct-1944	MAGDEBURG	42-50608	W	Z5	FILTHY McNAUGTY	129	17	L2	BETZOLD
15-Oct-1944	MONHEIM	42-50608	W	Z5	FILTHY McNAUGTY	133	18	L2
17-Oct-1944	COLOGNE	42-50608	W	Z5	FILTHY McNAUGTY	134	19	L3
19-Oct-1944	MAINZ	42-50608	W	Z5	FILTHY McNAUGTY	135	20	L2	BREVAKIS
30-Oct-1944	HARBURG	42-50578	H	J3	SKY ROOM	138	21	L3	BREVAKIS
25-Nov-1944	BINGEN	42-51939	A+	J3	UNKNOWN (if any)	148	22	L2	CLAGGETT
10-Dec-1944	BINGEN	42-50684	B	J3	A&G FISH SHOPPE	154	23	L1	JAMISON
27-Dec-1944	NEUNKIRCHEN	42-50684	B	J3	A&G FISH SHOPPE	159	24	L1	WILLIAMSON
30-Dec-1944	NEUWIED	42-50684	B	J3	A&G FISH SHOPPE	161	25	L1	JAMISON
7-Jan-1945	RASTATT	42-51936	I	J3	UNKNOWN (if any)	166	26	L1	JAMISON
17-Jan-1945	HARBURG	42-95557	H	J3	LADY PEACE	172	27	L1	not listed
3-Feb-1945	MAGDEBURG	42-51669	J	J3	UNKNOWN (if any)	177	28	L1	BETZOLD
11-Feb-1945	DULMEN	42-95628	K	J3	UNKNOWN (if any)	180	ABT	L1	SPEER	ABORT
21-Feb-1945	NUREMBERG	42-51936	I	J3	UNKNOWN (if any)	185	29	L1	O'NEILL
24-Feb-1945	BIELEFELD	42-51936	I	J3	UNKNOWN (if any)	188	30	L1	HOGG