on 2 april the transport joined the screen of escort aircraft carriers loaded with the first land-based planes to be sent to okinawa. the first section of the task group launched planes to land on okinawa on 7 april 1945. the following day "manley's" task group closed the islands to launch the remainder of the aircraft for landing strips on that bitterly contested "last stepping stone" to japan. "manley" dropped depth charges on a submarine contact during the launch. then she protected escort carriers and to guam.