"Kitkun Bay" returned to sea at the end of April, recalibrating her navigational equipment, and conducting additional drills. She then returned to San Diego, this time to pick up an air squadron bound for Pearl Harbor. She left port on 1 May, with twelve FM-2 Wildcats and nine TBM-1C Avengers of VC-5 on board. She was joined by "Gambier Bay" and , and the three carriers were escorted by the destroyers and . Arriving at Ford Island on 8 May, the aircraft conducted carrier qualifications with VC-5 off of Oahu. These qualifications were momentarily interrupted by upkeep at Ford Island. She then conducted additional exercises in conjunction with the battleship . Exercises with the battleship were conducted 10–19 May. After finishing exercises, she yet again entered maintenance, during which preparations for Operation Forager were made, the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign.