With Japanese air attacks expected momentarily, Hart decided to send the two Navy oilers, "Trinity" and USS "Pecos" (AO-6), and seaplane tender USS Langley (AV-3) south from Manila Bay. Later that day, these three valuable auxiliaries, shepherded by USS "Pope" (DD-225) and USS "John D. Ford" (DD-228), departed in a hastily assembled convoy. Two days later, while the American ships sailed for Borneo, 80 Japanese bombers and 52 fighter planes attacked the American navy yard at Cavite, destroying it as a base for the Asiatic Fleet. "Trinity" had departed the area just in time.