reassigned to the fifth fleet, she joined a carrier group in february 1945, striking at tokyo in support of the iwo jima invasion. she arrived ulithi 7 march with in tow, and four days later fought a fire on . for almost a month she rendered valuable assistance to the okinawa invasion forces, performing her duties despite the threat of kamikaze suicide attacks. she departed kerama retto 6 may 1945, and spent the next three months between the philippines and marianas. she arrived japan 4 september 1945 for occupation duty before returning to the west coast.