照片拍攝於1945年1月12日。四架從38特遣艦隊艾塞克斯號航母起飛的TBF復仇者飛機，剛剛完成西貢沿岸海域的轟炸任務。 

克里夫蘭級輕巡洋艦奧斯托利亞號（USS Astoria CL-90）的火力管制員Jim Thomson在他的日記上記載了1月11日的軍事行動及襲擊前準備： 

“We were to close to four thousand yards and fire over a small island which blocked the bay. The idea was to drive out whatever was in the harbor then let fly with everything we had. 

Each gun of the main battery was allowed fifty rounds. It didn't sound too good to the topside stations. Four thousand yards was rather close for comfort, especially against the shore installations which the Japanese must have. 

During the evening Marines knocked down three Japanese patrol planes. We wondered if we had been spotted. That evening we made our final preparations.”

同一時間，南邊聖雀岬港外的神靖丸與其它運輸商船尚未預料到不久後即將遭受攻擊。