For the next two days, "Kitkun Bay" disembarked her passengers, as well as the marine air group that she was transporting. She also unloaded spare parts for aircraft based in the region. Upon finishing that task on 17 February, she transited the Segond Channel, where she took on a load of assorted cargo, including fuel, mail, and passengers. She then steamed for Efate, arriving the following day, on 18 February. As she began her return trip on 19 February, she was escorted by the former destroyer, turned high-speed minesweeper, . Transiting via Ford Island, she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 28 February, where she disembarked much of her cargo. She then proceeded back to the West Coast, in conjunction with , which had also just finished a transport mission, and was now carrying a load of nonfunctional aircraft. The two escort carriers arrived back at port in San Diego on 6 March.