During the Philippine's Lingayen operation, mine sweeping commenced on January 6, 1945 around 700, with kamikaze attacks at their worst. Task force commander Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf had anticipated word of heavy mine fields and significant obstacles on the beaches. Unexpectedly, exploratory sweeps during the morning of January 6, revealed only two floating mines and no moored mines. When the sweepers completed their task on January 8, a total of only four mines had been recovered. Information from Lt. Commander W. R. Loud indicated as many as ten mines may have been removed on January 7, but though it was one of the most dangerous operations for converted Clemson Class destroyer minesweepers of the war, relatively few mines were found in Lingayen Gulf and only one additional mine on the beaches.