sole credit for downing the first plane and a part in getting the second. The enemy withdrew at about 12:25; and, six minutes later, the transports resumed their tasks at Cape Torokina. That night, she escorted the empty transports back to Guadalcanal. For the next month, Warrington made escort runs between Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo. On 14 March, she became a part of the antisubmarine screen for an escort carrier task group operating in support of Task Force 37 (TF 37) which, in turn, was striking at Kavieng, a large Japanese base located on the northwestern tip of New Ireland. Later that month, she escorted the third convoy of troopships to Emirau Island, arriving there on the 28th. On 6 April, the destroyer returned to the New Hebrides, stopping briefly at Espiritu Santo before continuing on to Efate where she discharged passengers. On 9 April, she reentered the port at Espiritu Santo for an 11-day availability. New Guinea On 20 April, she rejoined TF 37 at Efate and, four days later, headed south to Sydney, Australia, where she arrived on 29 April. After a week in the Australian port, Warrington headed back to Efate with TF 37, entering Havannah Harbor on 10 May. There, she and the destroyer were detached from the task force and ordered to New Guinea. The two destroyers reached Milne Bay on 13 May and reported for duty with the 7th Fleet. Two days later, Warrington stood out of Milne Bay bound for Capes Sudest and Cretin. At the latter place, she joined the antisubmarine screen of a Hollandia-bound convoy of LST's. She escorted her charges into Humboldt Bay on 22 May and remained there for three days. She and Balch got underway together again on the 25th to conduct a shore bombardment mission at Wakde Island in support of the advancing troops of the 6th Army. She began her first mission early on 26 May. Dense foliage precluded the identification of specific targets, so Warrington contented herself with an area bombardment, firing more or less uniformly throughout the designated sector. On 27 May, she and Balch returned for a repeat performance, at the conclusion of which they received a message from the general commanding ashore lauding their ". . . superb cooperation . . ." and indicating that their gunfire had been ". . . of great assistance . . ." to the troops ashore.