Later that afternoon, "Manila Bay"s CAP intercepted a Japanese bomber-fighter strike about 50 miles north of Taffy 2. Her four fighters broke up the enemy formation, and with reinforcements drove off the attackers before they reached the carriers. Her planes continued to attack enemy ships the following day. Laden with rockets and bombs, one of her Avengers scored two hits on the cruiser and several rocket hits on the destroyer . Both ships sank about noon in the Visayan Sea after numerous air attacks.