Detached from this duty at Leyte on 4 January 1945, she escorted a convoy of 56 tugs and tows to Lingayen Gulf at Luzon in the Philippines, fighting off three attacks by Japanese planes before her arrival at the newly invaded beaches there on 14 January 1945. Returning to Leyte on 18 January 1945, "Day" sailed a week later for the invasion of the San Antonio-San Felipe area of Luzon which had already been taken by Philippine guerrilla forces.