Operation Magic Carpet (World War II)

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For the other operation with this name, see Operation Magic Carpet (Yemen).

Homeward bound U.S. GIs on board the carrier USS Enterprise during Operation Magic Carpet

Operation Magic Carpet was the post-World War II effort by the War Shipping Administration to repatriate over eight million American military personnel from the European, Pacific, and CBI theaters. Hundreds of Liberty ships, Victory ships, and troop transports began repatriating soldiers from Europe in June 1945. Beginning in October 1945, over 370 Navy ships were used for repatriation duties in the Pacific. Aircraft carriers, battleships, hospital ships, and large numbers of assault transports were used. The European phase of Operation Magic Carpet concluded in February 1946 while the Pacific phase continued until September 1946.