Up until 7 April, her gun crews had to content themselves with watching their sister ships and combat air patrols splash Japanese planes. That evening, however, the minesweeper received a message from indicating the approach of an enemy "Betty." Soon "Signet" 's gunners were able to see the medium bomber's exhaust flames as it approached their ship. At 2033 the port guns opened fire. The plane passed low over the minesweeper and began to flame as the starboard gunners loosed their fusillade. Burning as he went, the Japanese plane splashed into the sea about 1,000 yards from "Signet". The wreckage floated and burned for a while as "Signet" searched fruitlessly for survivors. Soon thereafter, she returned to her patrol station.