after a dash to auckland, "eaton" embarked rear admiral g. h. fort and staff on 26 october and served as flagship for the landings on treasury island the following day. prior to the landings at empress augusta bay, she led fast minelayers uss "tracy" (dm-19) and "pruitt" (dm-22) through bougainville straits to seal off the eastern approach, on the night of 1/2 november.