Unite Levonne “Bro” Brodin was born on July 8, 1919, in Clitherall Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. He was the son of Clarence Henry Brodin and Anna Marie Hanson Brodin. He was married to Rebecca Ellen Trygstad Gowan. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Captain and Pilot of B-17 #42-107231 during World War II.

On May 24, 1944, B-17 #42-107231 participated in a bombing mission over Berlin. During the mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire (flak), which struck engines #3 and #4. The damage caused the aircraft to explode and crash near the Jungfernheide railway station in Berlin. Eight of the crew members were killed in action, and the remaining were taken as prisoners of war.

Cpt Brodin was among those who lost their lives in the crash and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium. Unite L. Brodin's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 26, in the bottom left wing (section C).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, B-17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org