"Honolulu" departed from the staging area at Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands on 12 October, and steamed towards the Philippines for the invasion of Leyte. She began a bombardment from Leyte Gulf on 19 October, and the next day she began screening the landings. At 1600, on 20 October an enemy torpedo plane was sighted as it aimed its torpedo at "Honolulu". Despite the skillful maneuvering of Captain Thurber to evade, the torpedo found its mark on her port side.