He was the bombardier on the crew flying the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bockscar on August 9, 1945 (his 27th birthday), that dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.

In July 1940, Beahan joined the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet[2] but washed out of pilot training, becoming a bombardier instead.

In the summer of 1944, he was recruited by his former commander in England, Colonel Paul W. Tibbets to be part of the 509th Composite Group, which was formed to deliver the atomic bomb.

Following the Japanese surrender, he returned to the United States as a crewman in the record-breaking 1945 Japan–Washington flight under Lieutenant General Barney M. Giles.

Foote had spent six years in the US military and was tasked with making preparations for the invasion of Japan but in spite of his desires, never saw combat.

"Foote was devastated that World War II was over", and it was Beahan, the future husband of his ex-wife, who ended it.