This was not a very uplifting initial flight for this new bomber and crew. Not only did none of the crew see the target but none of them even had a chance to fire their guns. The very first enemy aircraft encountered was over the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands (Zone 4). Charlotte was surprise attacked by an ME110 Tame Boar coming up from 6 o'clock low. This bomber and its crew never even had a chance. The 110 ripped into them ferociously (10 hits), causing a fuel tank fire on the starboard wing. Capt. Harris held the plane steady for as long as he could while the crew bailed out. Tail gunner Sgt. Bailey was trapped due to fuselage damage and mid-upper gunner Sgt. Smythe's efforts to free him were in vain. Capt. Harris ordered Smythe to bail out and then followed suit. Sgt. Bailey was presumed dead due to the impact of the crash in the water. By the time a rescue ship could get to the crash site Capt. Harris and radio operator Sgt. O'Brian had perished due to the extremecoldness of the water, with the other crew members clinging to life.