"Knox" steamed out of Humboldt Bay on 5 November and returned to Leyte on 18 November after loading troops and cargo at Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, from 7 to 14 November 1944. From Leyte she proceeded the same day to Manus; and, arriving 24 November, began a month of landing exercises off Manus, New Britain, and New Guinea in preparation for the invasion of Luzon. Loaded with 1,278 U.S. Army troops, she departed Manus on 31 December 1944 for Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. Fighting through heavy enemy air attack, she reached Lingayen Gulf 9 January 1945, unloaded all troops and cargo within 8 hours, and headed back toward Leyte. While repelling air attacks 9 to 10 January, "Knox" hit two Japanese planes, shooting down one of them.