During the war, the Forca Aerea Brasiliera received a few B-25s under Lend-Lease, being the only Latin American air arm to do so.
The Lend-Lease deliveries were seven B-25Bs, one B-25C, 11 B-25J-15s, and ten B-25J-20s. The seven B-25Bs were delivered in January of 1942. Their serials were 40-2245, 2255, 2263, 2306, 2309, 2310, and 2316. One of them was used only as a ground instructional airframe. B-25C 41-12558 was delivered in July 1942 for use in a mechanic's training school. The remaining 21 Lend-Lease aircraft were all B-25Js, delivered between August and November of 1944. Their serials were 44-29007/29011, 29015/29020, and 29493/29502. All were assigned FAB serials in the 5000 and 5100 range. In addition, a war-weary B-25C 41-12872 was Given by the USAAF 12th AF to the 1st Brazilian Fighter Group in Pisa, Italy and used as a squadron hack. It was never given a FAB serial number.
Brazil declared war against the Axis powers in August of 1942. FAB B-25s participated in the war against the U-boats in the southern Atlantic. The FAB Mitchells served from late 1944 with the 4 Grupo de Bombardeio Medio at Foraleza, while the 6 Regimento de Aviacao's 2 Group at Salvador operated a mix of B-25s, PV-1s and A-28s.
Following the end of the war, between July 11, 1946 and October 2, 1947, at least 64 additional B-25s were delivered to Brazil under the American Republic Projects and subsequent military assistance programs. Among these were 43-27873, 43-28035, 43-28220, 43-28221, and 43-36245.
The following units used the B-25:
Formed in January 1942 at Fortaleza AFB as a refreshing training unit to regular Brazilian Air Force crews with 10 Curtiss P-36A, 2 Douglas B-18A, 6 Curtiss P-40E, 3 North American T-6D Texan, 6 North American B-25B, 3 Lockheed A-28A Hudson and some Waco EGC-7. The unit was deactivated on the same year and the six B-25B were distributed to operational units at Natal and Recife Air Force Bases.
Received 3 B-25Bs from Fortaleza in 1942. The following year they exchanged them for 8 new B-25Js. The unit became the 5º Grupo de Bombardeiro Médio in 1945 and the 5º Grupo de Aviação em 1947. It continued to fly B-25s until 1970.
Received 3 B-25Bs from Fortaleza in 1942 and the other three from Natal in 1943. Deactivated in 1947.
At São Paulo city, with several planes including one B-25C in 1942 and one B-25D from 1944. It was absorbed by the Escola de Especialistas da Aeronáutica at Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State in 1951 and conserved its B-25C and D up to this date. Maybe have received the instructional B-25B also.
Formed at Salvador AFB in 1942 with 3 North American NA-72 Texan. In 1943 received 7 Lockheed A-28 Hudson, 3 Curtiss P-40M and some B-25Js. Became the 1º/7º Grupo de Aviação in 1947 with B-25s and flew these planes until 1951.
Formed in 1943 at Galeão AFB, Rio de Janeiro, with B-25J, 8 A-28 Hudson and 3 Consolidated Vultee PBY-5 Catalina. It was renamed the 3º GRUPO DE BOMBARDEIO MÉDIO in 1944 and deactivated in 1947.
A new unit formed at Fortaleza AFB in 1944 with T-6D Texan, B-25J Mitchell and A-28 Hudson. Became the 1º/4º Grupo de Aviação in 1948 with B-25Js and flew them until 1956.
Equipped with Douglas A-20K Havoc at Cumbica AFB, São Paulo city. It used a B-25J as a transitional trainer from 1945. Became the 1º/10º Grupo de Aviação in 1947 and operated 6 RB-25s adapted with cameras for photo-reconnaissance from 1955 to 1969, after the demisse of the photo R-20K Havoc.
Formed in 1948 at Cumbica AFB, São Paulo with 03 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and 06 B-25J. Deactivated in 1951.
Formed February, 1957 to operated the Grumman S-2A Tracker from the aircraft-carrier MINAS GERAIS, and shore based at Santa Cruz AFB, Rio de Janeiro. Crews were trained in 1957/58 with the help of one Lockheed P-2E Neptune, some North American SNJ-5C Texans and B-25J Mitchells borrowed from others Units.
In addition, several operational squadrons, base flights and air depots operated the Mitchell as a hack and transport plane until their final retirement in 1974. Brazilian serials were: B-25B 5028 to 5033 and 5144; B-25C 5075; B-25D 5078, B-25J 5052 to 5072, 5077 and 5079 to 5143.
The last Brazilian B-25 was finally declared surplus in 1970. There are at least three survivors remaining in museums. B-25J-25 44-30069 (FAB serial 5127) is on display at the Museu Aerospacial (Brazilian Air Force Museum) at Rio de Janeiro. B-25J 44-29500 (FAB serial 5070) is owned by the Eduardo Andrea Matarazzo War Museum at Bebeduoro. B-25J FAB serial number 5133 is on static display at Belem. Its original USAAF serial number is unknown.
40-2229/2348 North American B-25B Mitchell 2245, 2255, 2263, 2306, 2309, 2310, and 2316 were delivered to Brazil 41-12434/13038 North American B-25C Mitchell 12558, 12872 to Brazil 43-27473/27792 North American B-25J-1 Mitchell 27491 to Brazil in 1946/47 27530 to Brazil in 1946/47 27605 to Brazil in 1946/47 27610 to Brazil in 1946/47 27626 to Brazil in 1946/47 27775 to Brazil in 1946/47 43-27793/28112 North American B-25J-5 Mitchell 27847 to Brazil in 1946/47 27864 to Brazil in 1946/47 27865 to Brazil in 1946/47 27869 to Brazil in 1946/47 27873 to Brazil in 1946/47 27876 to Brazil in 1946/47 27878 to Brazil in 1946/47 27880 to Brazil in 1946/47 27881 to Brazil in 1946/47 28033 to Brazil in 1946/47 28035 to Brazil in 1946/47 28046 to Brazil in 1946/47 43-28113/28222 North American B-25J-10 Mitchell 28196 to Brazil in 1946/47 28210 to Brazil in 1946/47 28220 to Brazil in 1946/47 28221 to Brazil in 1946/47 43-35946/36245 North American B-25J-10 Mitchell 35967 to Brazil in 1946/47 36083 to Brazil in 1946/47 36087 to Brazil in 1946/47 36093 to Brazil in 1946/47 36096 to Brazil in 1946/47 36097 to Brazil in 1946/47 36132 to Brazil in 1946/47 36141 to Brazil in 1946/47 36147 to Brazil in 1946/47 36154 to Brazil in 1946/47 36167 to Brazil in 1946/47 36224 to Brazil in 1946/47 36245 to Brazil in 1946/47 44-28711/29110 North American B-25J-15/17 Mitchell 28717 to Brazil in 1946/47 28913 to Brazil in 1946/47 28928 to Brazil in 1946/47 28929 to Brazil in 1946/47 28930 to Brazil in 1946/47 28939 to Brazil in 1946/47 28940 to Brazil in 1946/47 28948 to Brazil in 1946/47 28949 to Brazil in 1946/47 29007/29011 to Brazil in 1944 29015/29020 to Brazil in 1944 29056 to Brazil in 1946/47 44-29111/29910 North American B-25J-20/22 Mitchell 29493/29502 to Brazil in 1944 29891 to Brazil in 1946/47 29905 to Brazil in 1946/47 44-29911/30910 North American B-25J-25/27 Mitchell 30069 to Brazil in 1946/47 30095 to Brazil in 1946/47 30137 to Brazil in 1946/47 30139 to Brazil in 1946/47 30142 to Brazil in 1946/47 30225 to Brazil in 1946/47 30242 to Brazil in 1946/47 30245 to Brazil in 1946/47 30246 to Brazil in 1946/47 30248 to Brazil in 1946/47 30311 to Brazil in 1946/47 30326 to Brazil in 1946/47 30350 to Brazil in 1946/47 30351 to Brazil in 1946/47 30406 to Brazil in 1946/47 30783 to Brazil in 1946/47 30784 to Brazil in 1946/47 30787 to Brazil in 1946/47 44-30911/31510 North American B-25J-30/32 Mitchell 30911 to Brazil in 1946/47