In the beginning of 1942, Brazil cut diplomatic relations with the countries of the Axis and immediately five Brazilian ships were torpedoed and sunk. The first submarines to carry through attacks in the Brazilian coast had been Italians "Calvi", "Barbarigo", "Capellini" and "Archimede", based in Bordeaux, France. During the months of May, June and July, eight other ships were sunk by German submarines, with the objective to interrupt the supply to the U.S.A. of strategic materials produced in Brazil.

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Of form to reequip its just-born Air Force, which didn't have modern airplanes, Brazil proceeded with  the purchase of North American airplanes, which had started to arrive at Brazil in 1942. In the first lot, twelve huntings Curtiss P-36, two Douglas B-18 and six In the B-25 Mitchell and P-40 had been later received and based in Fortaleza, where a unit of training of the BAF had been formed - the Grouping of Airplanes of Adaptation - with aid of staff of the Air Force of the Army of U.S.A. (USAAF).

Atenciosamente,

Marcius Cesar Costa 
Gerência Regional

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