BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE FAB * - BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE
22)NORTH AMERICAN MITCHELL B 25
Total received: 28
General characteristics:
Crew: six (two pilots, navigator/bombardier, turret gunner/engineer, radio operator/waist gunner, tail gunner.
Length: 52 ft 11 in (16.1 m)
Wingspan: 67 ft 6 in (20.6 m)
Height: 17 ft 7 in (4.8 m) Wing area: 610 sq ft (57 m²)
Empty weight: 21,120 lb (9,580 kg)
Loaded weight: 33,510 lb (15,200 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 41,800 lb (19,000 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Wright R-2600 "Cyclone" radials, 1,850 hp (1,380 kW) each.
Performance: Max. speed: 275 mph (239 knots, 442 km/h)
Cruise speed: 230 mph (200 knots, 370 km/h)
Combat radius: 1,350 mi (1,170 nm, 2,170 km)
Ferry range: 2,700 mi (2,300 nm, 4,300 km)
Service ceiling 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Rate of climb: 790 ft/min (4 m/s)
Wing loading: 55 lb/sq ft (270 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.110 hp/lb (182 W/kg)
Armament: Guns: 12× .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns: Rockets: 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) bombs + eight 5-inch high velocity aircraft rockets (HVAR) Bombs: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)
During the war, the Forca Aerea Brasileira received 28 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. 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. 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. FAB B-25s participated in the war against the U-boats in the southern Atlantic. Mitchell B 25 B, C and J models were deployed in several bases. They formed the first Patrol bomber squadron assembled in Fortaleza. One of them made the first attack against one enemy submarine in May 1942.
Detail of one B 25 squadron releasing their bombs during a practice drill over the sea. Brazilian Air Force soon acquired a high degree of preparedness thus relieving US Patrol squadrons of long range Liberators for hunting U boats in high seas.
One B25 showing Brazilian colors flying another long patrol sweep somewhere in the south Atlantic. Brazilian crews were soon familiarized with the meanders of the modern electronic warfare.
Fully restored B 25 J seen in permanent display at the Museu Aeroespacial do Brasil.
An impressive view of the B-25 assembly line at the factory at Kansas City Mo.
A rare view of one of the first B-25 assigned to Fortaleza PICI FIELD.
One B 25 G from the Bombing Converting Group, one of the predecessors of other Squadrons scattered through the Brazilian coast.
A group of B 25 seen in one Brazilian airbase
A group of B 25 over Northeastern coast during a routine patrol mission.
