"Pigeon" rendezvoused near midnight of 30 November-1 December 1941 with the gunboats and (flagship) and minesweeper . A Japanese seaplane circled the formation on the morning of 1 December 1941. For about eight hours, beginning at noon, seven Japanese warships encircled the American gunboats. One transport—loaded with troops (apparently bound for the Malayan expedition)—held gunnery exercises on the gunboat formation. The episode ended about 19:00 when a Japanese transport hoisted an International signal translated: "Enemy escaping on course 180." On 4 December, "Pigeon" sighted Corregidor Light and the convoy entered Manila Bay.