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name
BRODIN, Unite L - Date of
birth
8 July 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Clitherall, Otter Tail County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Clitherall, Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-740045 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
603rd Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 May 1944 - Place of
death
Jungfernheide railway station
Berlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 30 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clarence H. Brodin (father)
Anna M. Brodin (mother)
Mavis G. Brodin (brother)
Buell B. Brodin (brother)
Rebecca E. Brodin (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107231 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 5252
More information
Capt Unite L. Brodin attended college for 4 years and was a credit man. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Seattle, Washington on 30 March 1942.Statement of 2nd Lt D. B. Farnsworth:
"On 24 May 1944 I was flying in no two position on the leader of the low squadron of the high group. At approximately 1103, between the IP and the target, I glanced out of my ship at about one o’clock and saw that the group leader had been hit and had an engine on fire. I do not remember which engine was burning, but it was a large mass of orange flame. The lead ship was out of control and fell out of formation in a steep spiral. It soon passed from my range of vision and I did not see it again."
The airplane was hit by flak in the n° 3 and 4 engine and exploded. Three crew members were taken prisoner, eight were killed.
The deceased men were initially buried at the POW Cemetery of Elsgrund-Döbertiz between 25 and 28 May.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.398th.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, Michel Beckers/Geoff Rice-398th Web Team