 On 23 December, she departed Manus with Task Group (TG) 77.6 and arrived in Leyte Gulf on the 30th.She remained at Leyte until 2 January 1945 at which time she put to sea with TG 77.10, bound for Mindoro where she and the other units of Task Unit (TU) 77.10.5 were to establish a forward logistics base for the forces engaged in the assault and occupation of Luzon.The unit with which "Winooski" steamed came under air attack several times; and, though the oiler herself escaped unscathed, one ship — — fell victim to the kamikaze attacks and suffered such severe damage that American ships had to sink her with torpedoes.