The harrowing true-story of Lt. Cmdr. John Morrill's desperate escape (with several of his men) from the Japanese in the early days of WWII.
On the evening of 6 May, 1942, hours after US Army General Jonathan Wainwright surrendered all US and Filipino forces on the island of Corregidor and other fortified islands in Manila Bay to the Imperial Japanese Army, 18 US Navy sailors from USS Quail began their daring escape to freedom.
Using a 36 foot Navy motor launch, the 18 sailors, led by Lieutenant Commander John Morrill began their 2,000 mile journey through Japanese infested waters. With only a watch, compass, homemade sextant and a few maps it was an incredible feat of navigation.
Their story is one of great audacity, where the generosity and bravery of the Filipino people, along with sheer luck played an integral role in the outcome of events. This World War II escape story was originally published as a series of Saturday Evening Post articles in December, 1942, and then as a book in early 1943.
The book was written by Lieutenant Commander Morrill less than a year after the escape.