S/Sgt. Gershon Udelewitz A native of Baltimore, Gershon Udelewitz, served as aerial gunner and photographer with the 408th Bomb Squadron. On 25 October 1944 the 22nd BG set out to search for and attack a Japanese Task Force heading to destroy American shipping and transports in Leyte Gulf. It was his 58th mission. Moments after a middle-of-the night take-off from the island of Owi, Schouten Islands, Dutch East Indies, B-24 #44-40726 crashed and broke apart. Of the eleven men aboard five were killed. Sgt. Udelewitz, his right leg broken, was found at daybreak clinging to a coral reef. Infection from his more than three hours in the water caused his leg to be amputated. After prolonged hospitalization, S/Sgt. Udelewitz returned to civilian life. His seperation record shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart, Distinquished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Battle Star on his Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon.