ESSEX CLASS CARRIERS IN COLOR - USS Shangri La + Hancock return to the US in October 1945.

Amazing color footage from the National archives of the two wartime Essex Class Carriers Shangri La (CV-38) and Hancock (CV-19) coming home from the Pacific War. Dated 21st October, 1945, the ships docked at Long Beach, CA carrying servicemen from Okinawa as part of Operation Magic Carpet.
From The National Archives file: 428.NPC.15362
Edited and captioned by The Warshipologist.

[@TheWarshipologist]

The caption for Hancock went missing at ua-cam.com/video/IXzrirTdg6g/v-deo.html

[@Bald_Cat2007]

This was my great-grandfather's ship. He served aboard her as her radio operator during ww2. After the war ended he went home, finished college and married my grandmother. Sadly they've both passed. His name was John Wilson "Jack" Jones

[@eskhawk]

Those ESSEX-class ships were so beautiful...Even these battle worn ships look so graceful...

[@kkay2270]

This is incredible footage. Thank you for sharing it. My dad served during WWII in the U.S. Navy from Aug 1945 - Aug 1946 aboard the USS Shangri-La. At age 18, he worked as a fireman in the engine area and very likely would have been aboard at this time. He earned a WWII Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, an American Area Campaign Medal, and a WWII Victory Medal. He told me about the testing of the bombs during that time period. My dad decided not to volunteer for the bombing tests because the volunteers got quite ill after coming back from the tests. After serving our country, he went to college on the G.I. Bill and earned a Machinist Degree from Western Michigan University. He was a gifted mechanic. He passed away at the age of 87. I miss him terribly, but I’m so proud of the person he was.

[@walthammassagefitness]

My grandfather was on Okinawa, and he became a machinist working at Dictaphone in Bridgeport CT after he got back from the war. I don't think he was part of this return operation though, he would have told me about returning on the carriers. My guess is trip back wasn't so luxurious.

[@johnbenet5394]

I was On the ShangriLa from 1961-1964 it was the most miserable 3 years of my life

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

Lucian Loyal Huddleston my Dad just found out on a dna test Dad I am Proud of you serving on USS Shangri-la...WW2.....Thank you wish I could of met you but know you are with me always...your son.

[@mdit21]

The carriers returning looked war weary.

[@xenophonBC]

Amazing footage!

[@ZekeUlrey]

Incredible stuff.

[@anonymusum]

Great footage, very interesting. Thanks a lot.