Departing Galveston, Texas, 15 March, Latona loaded dry and refrigerated cargo at Mobile, Alabama, transited the Panama Canal, and arrived Pearl Harbor 17 April. Assigned to Service Squadron 8, she sailed 28 April for the western Pacific Ocean. She reached Ulithi, western Carolines, 14 May, joined Service Squadron 10, and departed in convoy 15 May for the Ryūkyūs. She arrived Kerama Retto 21 May. Despite frequent air alerts, she completed unloading cargo 30 May.
