Three days later, she was called upon to provide assistance of a different nature. She departed her assigned "Sea Dragon" operating area in company with the Australian destroyer to rendezvous with the carrier . A fuel tank dropped off one of the carrier's A-4 Skyhawk aircraft during preparations for take-off causing a serious fire. "Theodore E. Chandler" joined the group of ships assisting the carrier in removing her wounded and dead and in readying her to travel to Subic Bay, the first leg of a voyage back to the United States and major repairs.