Sailing from San Pedro 28 October 1943, Cowell arrived at Pearl Harbor 2 November to join the Fast Carrier Task Force (then TF 58, later TF 38).
Cowell returned to Majuro 22 March 1944 and rejoined TF 58 for the strikes on Palau, Yap and Ulithi of 30 March to 1 April; the invasion of Hollandia from 21 to 23 April; and the raids on Truk, Satawan and Ponape of 29 April to 1 May.