Changes

On 10 September, Belleau Wood launched fighter sweeps over Buayan and Digos airfields while an "Avenger" strike hit Cotabato airfield. Targets proved scarce on Mindanao, however; and the task group shifted emphasis to the Visayas in the central Philippines. On the 12th, fighter sweeps over Negros and Cebu shot down two "Zekes," a [[Nakajima Ki-43]] "Oscar" fighter, and a Nakajima B6N "Jill" torpedo bomber. Rocket attacks on airfields, barracks, and coastal shipping rounded out the day. On the 13th, Belleau Wood's CAP splashed a last pair of aircraft, a "Frances" and an "Oscar," before she finally turned south for New Guinea. The next day, while enroute to support the Morotai landings, she sent a fighter sweep over Zamboanga which claimed five "Bettys" and a "Nick" destroyed on the ground. After that successful operation, TG 38.1 took a break and flew "routine" air cover and ASP missions near Morotai during the landings made there between 15 and 17 September. The next day, Belleau Wood shifted to TG 38.4 and sailed to Seeadler Harbor on Manus to replenish ordnance and provisions.

On 10 September, Belleau Wood launched fighter sweeps over Buayan and Digos airfields while an "Avenger" strike hit Cotabato airfield. Targets proved scarce on Mindanao, however; and the task group shifted emphasis to the Visayas in the central Philippines. On the 12th, fighter sweeps over Negros and Cebu shot down two "Zekes," a [[Nakajima Ki-43]] "Oscar" fighter, and a Nakajima B6N "Jill" torpedo bomber. Rocket attacks on airfields, barracks, and coastal shipping rounded out the day. On the 13th, Belleau Wood's CAP splashed a last pair of aircraft, a "Frances" and an "Oscar," before she finally turned south for New Guinea. The next day, while en route to support the Morotai landings, she sent a fighter sweep over Zamboanga which claimed five "Bettys" and a "Nick" destroyed on the ground. After that successful operation, TG 38.1 took a break and flew "routine" air cover and ASP missions near Morotai during the landings made there between 15 and 17 September. The next day, Belleau Wood shifted to TG 38.4 and sailed to Seeadler Harbor on Manus to replenish ordnance and provisions.