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On January 25, 1939, the Army Air Corps announced a competition for a medium bomber design, but instead of waiting for the prototypes, the Army awarded production contracts to North American for the B-25 and Martin for the B-26. Named in honor of US airpower proponent Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II and was made in larger quantities than any other American twin-engine combat airplane. The 17th Bomb Group at McChord Field, Wash., was the first unit to receive B-25s in 1941. On April 18, 1942, Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle led the Doolittle Raid, in which 16 B-25B crews took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) and bombed Tokyo and other targets, the first time US aircraft had bombed Japan. The 75-mm cannon in the B-25G/H was used with mixed results, primarily against ships. The Marine Corps received 706 B-25Bs, Cs, and Ds, which were redesignated PBJ-1, and used for antisubmarine patrol duties. Mitchells were later relegated to support duties and did not see service in Korea. The last B-25s were used to train pilots assigned to fly bombers and tankers. Large numbers of B-25s were flown by the Soviet Union and Britain. It was also flown by the Netherlands, Taiwan, and Brazil. A number of surplus B-25s were used by civilian operators as aerial camera ships for Hollywood movies. On May 21, 1960, the last serving aircraft, a VB-25J staff transport, was retired from service at Eglin AFB, Fla.

Jirka Wagner