 As the top turret gunner was injured, Foley became his replacement, despite having no aerial-gunnery training.After a quick introduction to the equipment and procedures and one practice mission, Foley found himself on his first combat mission two days later, a raid against shipping near Rabaul on May 24, 1942.He shot down an A6M Zero, even though he had not even been taught how to use the gunsight.