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:
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AGRUPAMENTO DE AVIÕES DE ADAPTAÇÃO:
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.
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GRUPO BIMOTOR of the 1º GRUPO MISTO DE AVIAÇÃO at Natal AFB.
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.
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1º GRUPO DE BOMBARDEIO MÉDIO of the 6º REGIMENTO DE AVIAÇÃO at Recife AFB.
Received 3 B-25Bs from Fortaleza in 1942 and the other three from Natal in 1943. Deactivated in 1947.
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ESCOLA TÉCNICA DE AVIAÇÃO.
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.
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2º GRUPO DE BOMBARDEIO MÉDIO.
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.
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UNIDADE VOLANTE DO GALEÃO.
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.
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4º GRUPO DE BOMBARDEIO MÉDIO.
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.
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2º GRUPO DE BOMBARDEIO LEVE
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.
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1º ESQUADRÃO MISTO DE INSTRUÇÃO.
Formed in 1948 at Cumbica AFB, São Paulo with 03 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and 06 B-25J. Deactivated in 1951.
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1º GRUPO DE AVIAÇÃO EMBARCADA.
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.
Serial Numbers of FAB Mitchells
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
Sources:
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B-25 Mitchell: The Magnificent Medium, N. L. Avery, Phalanx, 1992.
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Medium with the Mostest--The B-25 Mitchell, Jerry Scutts,
Air International, Vol. 44, Nos 2 and 3, 1993.
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Boston, Mitchell, and Liberator in Australian Service, Stewart
Wilson, Aerospace Publications, 1992.
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Famous Bombers of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday,
1959.
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North American's Flying Gun--The Story of the B-25 From Paper
Airplane to Legendary Bomber, Jack Dean, Wings, Vol 23 No 4, 1993.
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United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough
and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
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United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, Gordon Swanborough and
Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
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North American B-25A-G Mitchell, Aircraft in Profile, Doubleday,
1966.
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Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century, Michael J.
H. Taylor.
- E-mail from Rafael Pinheiro Machado, with details about FAB service and some new serial numbers.
