Bugs or no bugs, the whole squadron was ordered back to Munda in an effort to relieve pressure on the fighters already stationed there. Frequent contact with the Japanese had whittled away fighter cover, and VMF-214 could plug the gaps. While Hazelwood and Tomlinson remained in sick bay, twenty-seven pilots plus Don Hatch and Doc Bookman were scheduled to depart the Russells on August 24. Twelve pilots were to fly F4Us and the others to ride a transport, but at the last minute the Corsairs were assigned as escorts for a B-24 strike to Kahili. Confusion reigned. In the end, only three swashbucklers completed the escort mission; the rest landed early at Munda with a host of engine and oxygen system troubles.

Of the three who finished the strike, one had a close encounter on the way home. The B-24s ran into heavy weather east of Bougainville and turned to bomb their secondary target, Vila, whereupon Jack Petit became separated from the others over the Shortlands. Heading home at thirty thousand feet, he spied Zeros below and immediately nosed over. Attacking the tail-end Charlie, he shot off its right elevator. The-brown Zeke wobbled, then dived toward the surface, which earned Petit a probable. Rather than mixing it up with the rest, he continued diving until he was safely out of their way before continuing to Munda.

 
The next day was busy with an early scramble (no contacts), a sizable strike to Kolombangara later in the morning, and an evening patrol that ended in confusion. One pilot raced in and pancaked first, getting things out of normal sequence, then Charlie Lanphier braked his Corsair too hard and it nosed up, hanging precariously for a moment before falling back onto its tail wheel with a stalled engine. Behind him came Bob Hanson, who didn't hear the warnings and didn't see Charlie until it was almost too late. Hanson braked even harder, and his F4U went all the way over on its back. Neither pilot was hurt, but it was a hell of a way to lose an airplane. Between the efforts of Pistol Pete and Washing Machine Charlie, the Swashbucklers were under Condition Red almost constantly on Munda.