Kisaragi was sailing away from the island when she was attacked and sunk by Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters of Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-211 that had taken off earlier armed with 100-pound (45 kg) bombs.
Kisaragi yang sedang berlayar menjauhi pulau Wake pun diserang dan ditenggelamkan oleh pesawat Grumman F4F Wildcat milik Skuadron Tempur Marinir VMF-211 yang menghujani Kisaragi dengan bom 100-pon (45 kg).