In turn relieving on the morning of the 17th, "Aylwin" patrolled off the entrance to the harbor during the sortie of TF 17 from Nukualofa and then joined in escorting transport —carrying "Lexington" survivors gathered from all rescue ships of the task force—on the first leg of her voyage back to the west coast of the United States. Later that day, after "Burnett" suffered an engine casualty, "Aylwin" remained with the transport until she completed the repairs. Six days later, TF 17 reached Pearl Harbor.