Broyhill joined the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943. He served with the 8th Air Force in England, before being assigned to the 483rd Bombardment Group, based in Foggia, Italy. In March 1945, Broyill was the tailgunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress known as the "Big Yank." The nose-art on the "Big Yank" included a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was painted by Italian artist Mario Rucci. On March 24, 1945, Broyhill and the "Big Yank" flew in a 28-plane formation targeting the Daimler-Benz tank works near Berlin. The mission was the longest escorted bomber mission of World War II in Europe. The American bomber group was confronted by Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Me 262jet fighters. In the air battle that followed, The 483rd Bombardment Group set several records, including the following:
Most German jets destroyed by a single bomb group on one mission: six.
Most German jets destroyed by one bomb group for the entire war: seven.
Most German jets destroyed by a single crew on one mission: three.
Most German jets destroyed by a single crew for the entire war: three.
Most German jets destroyed by a single bomber for entire war: three.
The 483rd Bombardment Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation, and Broyhill set two individual records that day: most German jets destroyed by a single gunner in one mission, and most German jets destroyed by a single gunner during the entire war. Broyhill later recalled the record-setting mission as follows:
After being discharged from the Air Force, Broyhill returned to Arlington, Virginia and graduated from Washington-Lee High School. He later joined the L.R. Broyhill Co., a real estate company that developed residential communities in Arlington and Fairfax Counties in northern Virginia. Broyhill formed his own company, Broyhill Enterprises, Inc., in 1969. He continued to work as a residential real estate developer until he retired in 1980 and was one of the early developers of the planned community of Reston, Virginia.
Death
Broyhill died on November 21, 2008 of congestive heart failure at INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital in Oakton, Virginia. He was 83 years old, and was survived by his wife of 62 years, two children and a grandson.
