 She took up "Black Cat" operations again on 25 August 1944 from Middelburg and later Morotai.Steaming out of Morotai on 6 October 1944, "Half Moon" joined a small convoy en route to Leyte Gulf to assist in the developing operations for the recapture of the Philippine Islands.The convoy arrived at Leyte Gulf on 21 October 1944, and "Half Moon" immediately steamed down the eastern coast of Leyte in search of a proper anchorage for her seaplane operations.