After finishing exercises, "Kitkun Bay" docked back in San Diego, where she took on thirteen naval officers and seventeen TBF-1 Avengers of Marine Torpedo Bomber Squadron 242 (VMTB-242), along with their corresponding complement of crew. This process took place between 27 and 28 January, and upon finishing, she left San Diego on a transport mission bound for the West Pacific. Sailing without escorts for the first leg of her voyage, the crew conducted drills and anti-aircraft exercises. She crossed the equator on 6 February. Upon entering the waters around the Samoan Islands on 9 February, where Japanese submarines were assessed to be possibly located, the destroyer escort was assigned as an escort. "Kitkun Bay" arrived at Espiritu Santo on 14 February.