After Okinawa, Wichita reached Nagasaki in September 1945 as one of the first major warships to arrive in Japan. Her crew inspected Japanese ships and harbor installations for compliance with the surrender terms. Operation Magic Carpet then carried American personnel home through San Francisco, Hawaii, Saipan, and back. Wichita crossed the Panama Canal and reached Philadelphia in February 1946, entered reserve, and was decommissioned in February 1947. Boston and Canberra were chosen for guided-missile conversion, so Wichita did not receive that second technical career.
Notable Point · 44:14-46:21
Surrender inspections, Magic Carpet, and reserve
Wichita inspected Japanese ships after the surrender, carried American personnel home, entered reserve at Philadelphia, and lost out on guided-missile conversion.