In April she screened Carrier TF 16, which launched B-25's in the famous Halsey-Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities and returned to Pearl Harbor the 25th.

Ellet returned to Pearl Harbor on 13 June to prepare for invading the Solomons, the first American land offensive of the war.

Ellet arrived off Guadalcanal 7 August 1942 for pre-invasion bombardment, patrolled the transport area, and fought off air attacks.

While escorting transports deadheading back to Nouméa, Ellet was detached 12 August to screen the Enterprise (CV-6) task force covering reinforcement and supply of the Solomons.

After a week in Pearl Harbor for repairs, she saw action in New Guinea, supporting the operations at Hollandia in April.

Upon her return to Pearl Harbor she joined the 5th Fleet for the invasion of the Marianas, screening diversionary raids on the Bonins, and carriers in the assaults on Saipan and Guam.

Based on Guam and Saipan, she escorted convoys and patrolled on air-sea rescue station until July 1945.