"Fanshaw Bay" quietly retired back to Manus, where preparations began for the Philippines campaign. More specifically, "Fanshaw Bay", as the flagship for "Taffy 3", would be providing aerial cover for the planned landings on the island of Leyte. After a brief period of replenishment at Manus from 7 to 12 October, "Fanshaw Bay" set off for the Philippines. En route, on 16 October, "Fanshaw Bay" lost yet another aircraft to an accident, with one of her fighters wrecking itself on the flight deck, before being caught by an arresting cable, which resulted in the aircraft precariously dangling over her port side. Her crew, and after a short while, the aircraft, were subsequently recovered.