On the afternoon of 4 April, "Bunch" steamed to Kerama Retto where she relieved as flagship for TG 52.11 comprising all fast transports present in the Okinawa area. At 1600, the warship departed Kerama Retto to rendezvous with east of Okinawa for a conference on board the command ship. "Bunch" then screened "Estes" until 2300 when she received orders to patrol a station 20 miles south of Mae Shima. That duty lasted until 1045 on 5 April when "Bunch" rushed to another meeting with "Estes". At 1230, she joined the Eastern Islands Bombardment Group, comprising "Estes", , and "Arikara". While "Bunch" screened that unit, the embarked staff of TG 52.11 supervised UDT reconnaissance and demolition operations at the eastern islands and in Nakagusuku Wan (Buckner Bay).