The Rescue is Now Open!
Imagine yourself on the Philippine Island of Negros in 1944. The occupying Japanese soldiers terrorized Americans there as well as their Filipino friends and neighbors. By the spring of that year, American missionaries and those working at sugar mills or other industries were being hunted by the soldiers and they became refugees.
In May, the USS Crevalle, a Balao-class submarine, set out to rescue 25 American refugees from Negros, along with top secret documents. They found 40 passengers awaiting them including 28 women and children and three Bataan survivors. Many had trekked 100 miles to reach the beach rendezvous point, hiding from enemy along the way.
Experience The Rescue and become part of this true story! Let 7-year-old Berna Real, one of the child refugees, be your guide. You’ll follow her through the jungle, duck, and hide from enemy patrols.
Once on board the submarine, you’ll encounter a Japanese convoy, and the Crevalle will be engaged in battle – just like it actually happened as the Crevalle was en route to Australia! See and feel the depth charges! Watch the crew react alongside Berna, her brother Billy, and the rest of the refugee party.
This is a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional experience – history will come alive around you.
It's not just immersive, it's "submersive!"
(This experience may be too intense for young children or anyone with sensory processing difficulties.)
The Crew of the Crevalle were doing double duty on the trip - hosting passengers and continuing their patrol duties.
Berna and her brother Billy after reaching the beach where they waited to board the USS Crevalle.
The aggressive Captain Walker chose to engage with the enemy patrol with civilians aboard.
Sergeant Howard Chrisco recalls how he survived the Bataan Death March and escaped captivity as a POW.