Yemenite Aliyah - From the Desert to Israel on Iron Eagles Wings

The story of Operation Magic Carpet / Operation Wings of Eagles which airlifted tens of thousands of Jews from Yemen to Israel during the War of Independence.

Hear from journalist Ruth Gruber about the dedication of the ancient Jewish community of Yemen who faced starvation and persecution and trekked across the desert to be airlifted to the promised land.

Learn about the American pilots such as Warren Metzger and Elgen Long who flew non-stop over enemy territory to rescue the refugees who had never before seen an airplane. Find out how they modified the aircraft to carry hundreds of starving refugees to a new life in Israel.

Yemenite children await their flight to Israel, ca. 1949. Credit: Alaska Jewish Museum

The burned-out Jewish boy’s school in Aden (King George V School) – a response to UN approval of partition for Palestine, 1947. Credit: Alaska Jewish Museum

Yemenite refugees wait to board their plane to Israel, ca.1948-49. Credit: Alaska Jewish Museum

Torah scroll is carried onto an Alaska Airlines plane for transport to Israel, ca.1949. Credit: Alaska Jewish Musem

A Yemenite family walking through the desert to a reception camp set up by the “Joint” near Aden. Credit: Israeli Government Press Office, Zoltan Kluger, November 1, 1949.

The Channukah lamp is lit in the synagogue, Hashed camp near Aden. Credit: GPO, David Eldan, December 1, 1949.

from the book Witness: One of the Great Correspondents of the Twentieth Century Tells Her Story by Ruth Gruber

He talks of his donkey which fell by the wayside. Magic Carpet airlift, Yemenite immigrants, Aden, Yemen to Israel. Credit: GPO, David Eldan, December 1, 1949.

The end of the journey. Habanim said they left Aden “when the sun rose over the desert” and that it was “good to fly like the birds,” Lod airport. Credit: GPO, Fritz Cohen, August 26, 1950.

NOTES:

• Alaska Jewish Museum - On the Wings of Eagles: Alaska's Contribution to Operation Magic Carpet

• Witness: One of the Great Correspondents of the Twentieth Century Tells Her Story by Ruth Gruber

• Elgen Long interview - Toldot Yisrael

• On Eagles' Wings: An Untold Story of the Magic Carpet by Captain Elgen M. Long

• Alaska Over Israel: Operation Magic Carpet, the Men and Women Who Made it Fly, and the Little Airline That Could by Darragh Metzger

• Interview with Warren Metzger’s daughter - Toldot Yisrael

• Alaska Airlines role in Operation Magic Carpet

• Yemenite Jews Mark Anniversary of ‘operation Magic Carpet’ - JTA

• JDCs “operation Magic Carpet” Ends As Last Yemenite Jews Land at Israel Airport - JTA