Messerschmitt

Messerschmitt AG

Company type	Public limited company
Industry	Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	July 1938 (1938-07)
Founder	Willy Messerschmitt (lead designer)
Fate	Merged into Messerschmitt-Bölkow in 1968; later acquired by Deutsche Aerospace (DASA) in 1989
Headquarters	Augsburg , Germany
Key people	Willy Messerschmitt (Chairman and Managing Director)
Products	Military aircraft (notably Bf 109, Me 262), microcars (KR175, KR200), prefabricated homes
Number of employees	approx. 3,000 (1916, historical data)

For individuals with the surname Messerschmitt, see Messerschmidt.

Messerschmitt AG (German pronunciation: [ˈmɛsɐʃmɪt]) was a German public limited company specializing in aircraft manufacturing, established in mid-July 1938 and named after its lead designer, Willy Messerschmitt. The firm gained prominence chiefly for its World War II fighter planes, notably the Bf 109 and Me 262. Following the war, the company persisted through various mergers and rebrandings, eventually becoming part of Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm before its acquisition by Deutsche Aerospace (DASA, now integrated into Airbus) in 1989.

Origins

In February 1916, the southern German engineering firm MAN AG along with several banking institutions acquired the struggling aircraft manufacturer Otto-Flugzeugwerke and subsequently founded Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (abbreviated as B.F.W., meaning "Bavarian Aircraft Factory"). The company's articles of incorporation were drafted on 19 and 20 February and finalized by 2 March 1916. Official registration occurred on 7 March 1916 with a share capital of RM 1,000,000. Ownership was divided among the Bank für Handel und Industrie, Berlin (36%), MAN AG (30%), and Hermann Bachstein, Berlin (34%). Peter Eberwein, formerly affiliated with Albatros Flugzeugwerke, became the inaugural Chairman of the Board.

Due to urgent wartime demands, BFW commenced production immediately by manufacturing aircraft under license from Albatros Flugzeugwerke, bypassing development phases. Within a month of establishment, it was supplying aircraft to both Prussian and Bavarian military ministries. Early production faced significant quality challenges; German airmen frequently reported serious defects in initial BFW models—issues reminiscent of those encountered at Gustav Otto’s predecessor company. These problems were addressed by reorganizing operations and intensifying assembly oversight by late 1916. Subsequently, BFW achieved a monthly output exceeding 200 aircraft and expanded its workforce to approximately 3,000 employees, becoming one of Bavaria's leading aircraft producers.

The conclusion of World War I severely impacted BFW as military demand for aircraft evaporated. Management sought alternative products to sustain business operations. Since wartime planes were primarily constructed from wood to minimize weight, BFW possessed advanced woodworking machinery. The company had inventory sufficient for about 200 aircraft valued at roughly 4.7 million reichsmarks. This equipment and material stock were redirected toward manufacturing furniture and fitted kitchens. Beginning in 1921, BFW also produced motorcycles under proprietary brands Flink and Helios.

In late 1921, Austrian financier Camillo Castiglioni expressed interest in acquiring BFW. While most shareholders agreed to his proposal, MAN AG initially retained its stake. Castiglioni aimed to secure full ownership and received backing from BMW’s Managing Director Franz Josef Popp. In correspondence with MAN’s chairman, Popp described BFW as a "defunct factory with no significant facilities," largely consisting of deteriorated wooden structures located in an industrially unfavorable town with little prospect for growth. Popp maintained close ties with Castiglioni and was likely aware of plans to merge BMW with BFW. Around spring 1922, Castiglioni and Popp convinced MAN to relinquish its shares, granting Castiglioni sole ownership. Subsequently, in May that year, after acquiring BMW's engine division from Knorr-Bremse AG, Castiglioni paved the way for the integration of BFW with BMW’s engine manufacturing operations.

Reestablishment

In 1926, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW, or Bavarian Aircraft Works) was reconstituted in Augsburg, Bavaria, when Udet Flugzeugbau GmbH transitioned into a joint-stock company. During this period, BMW AG held a share in the enterprise and was represented on the Supervisory Board by Josef Popp.

The company welcomed Willy Messerschmitt in 1927 as its chief engineer and lead designer, where he assembled a dedicated design team.

One of their initial projects, the Messerschmitt M20, nearly resulted in disaster for both Messerschmitt and the firm. Numerous prototypes crashed, including one that claimed the life of Hans Hackmack, a close associate of Erhard Milch, who led Deutsche Luft Hansa and oversaw German civil aviation authorities. Milch’s dissatisfaction with Messerschmitt’s inadequate response fostered a deep-seated animosity. Consequently, Milch terminated all contracts with Messerschmitt and compelled BFW into bankruptcy by 1931. Nevertheless, Messerschmitt’s alliance with Hugo Junkers helped prevent career stagnation for both himself and BFW, which resumed operations in 1933. Despite this revival, Milch obstructed Messerschmitt’s control over BFW until 1938, explaining why early Messerschmitt models bore the "Bf" designation.

Messerschmitt advocated a design philosophy termed "light weight construction," which integrated multiple load-bearing components into one reinforced firewall, reducing weight and enhancing aircraft performance. This approach was first thoroughly validated with the Bf 108 Taifun sports plane, which subsequently set numerous records. Encouraged by this success, the company was invited to enter a design for the Luftwaffe’s 1935 fighter competition, ultimately winning it with the Bf 109, which employed similar construction techniques.

From that moment forward, Messerschmitt gained favor within the Nazi regime due to his innovative designs, political acumen, and the strategic location of his factory in southern Germany—distant from the concentration of aviation firms along the northern coast. On 11 July 1938, BFW was reorganized as "Messerschmitt AG," with Willy Messerschmitt appointed chairman and managing director. This change led to an update in the company's RLM prefix from "Bf" to "Me" for all new designs approved after this date. Earlier models like the Bf 109 and Bf 110 retained their original designations officially, although newer prefixes were sometimes applied by subcontractors such as Erla Maschinenwerk in Leipzig. In practice, all aircraft produced by BFW/Messerschmitt before this transition—from the four-seat touring monoplane Bf 108 to the Bf 163 light reconnaissance plane (which lost out to the rival Fieseler Fi 156 in a government competition)—carried the "Bf" prefix; subsequent models adopted "Me".

World War II

File:Concentration camp prisoners at Messerschmitt factory.png

Concentration camp prisoners at Messerschmitt factory, c. 1943

Throughout the conflict, Messerschmitt emerged as a principal aircraft designer, with their Bf 109 and Bf 110 models comprising the bulk of fighter aircraft in the early war years. The company also developed other notable aircraft, such as the massive Me 321 Gigant transport glider and its successor, the six-engine Me 323. In the latter half of the war, Messerschmitt shifted focus predominantly to jet-powered aircraft, pioneering the world's first operational jet fighter with the Me 262 Schwalbe ("Swallow"). Additionally, they manufactured the DFS-designed Me 163 Komet, recognized as the first rocket-powered aircraft to enter active service.

During this period, Messerschmitt extensively used forced labor to produce components for these advanced planes. These parts were assembled within a vast tunnel complex located in Sankt Georgen an der Gusen, Austria. The labor force consisted of prisoners from the harsh KZ Gusen I and II camps, as well as detainees from the nearby Mauthausen concentration camp, all situated close to the St. Georgen quarry area. Approximately 40,000 prisoners from diverse nationalities—including Spaniards, Italians, Poles, Slovenians, French, Russians, Hungarian Jews, among others—lost their lives during the manufacturing process at KZ Gusen. Messerschmitt representatives maintained facilities within the concentration camp to supervise inmate labor. Furthermore, both Messerschmitt and its leader Willy Messerschmitt occupied the renowned Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czech Republic, a property designed by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich in the 1920s; during wartime, this site housed Messerschmitt's factory offices alongside Gestapo operations.

Not all of Messerschmitt’s designs were successful; for instance, the Me 210, intended as a successor to the Bf 110, suffered from severe aerodynamic flaws that nearly led to the company’s collapse. These issues were partially resolved with the development of the Me 410 Hornisse, though only limited quantities were produced before focus shifted entirely to the Me 262 jet fighter. Later in the conflict, competing against projects like the Junkers Ju 390 and the uncompleted February 1943-initiated Heinkel He 277, Messerschmitt pursued a heavy bomber design aimed at reaching America—the Amerika Bomber—known as the Me 264. This bomber flew in prototype form with three airframes constructed; its maiden flight occurred in December 1942 but it was ultimately too late to participate in combat operations.

Post-war

Following World War II, Messerschmitt was prohibited from manufacturing aircraft for a decade. During this interval, one alternative product developed was a three-wheeled vehicle—a blend between a motorcycle and a bubble car—known as the Kabinenroller (cabin scooter), specifically models KR175 and KR200, engineered by aircraft designer Fritz Fend.

These microcars were actually produced by Fend's own company within Messerschmitt’s Regensburg facility. Notably, Willy Messerschmitt had minimal involvement beyond permitting his name to be used on these vehicles. Production of the KR200 model ended in 1964.

In addition to vehicles, Messerschmitt’s factory also manufactured prefabricated homes designed primarily as "self-building kits," which utilized an alloy framework as their structural basis.

Resumption of aviation activities

On 6 June 1968, Messerschmitt AG joined forces with the modest civil engineering and civil aviation enterprise Bölkow, resulting in the formation of Messerschmitt-Bölkow. The subsequent May saw the acquisition of Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB) by the company. Following this, the organization adopted the name Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB). In 1989, MBB was absorbed by DASA, which later operated under the name "EADS Germany" and is presently known as Airbus.

Aircraft

-'Messerschmitt P.1099'-|

Model	Designation	Maiden flight	Notes
M17		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	sports plane
M18		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	passenger aircraft
M19		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	sports plane
M20		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	passenger aircraft
M21		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	prototype biplane trainer
M22		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	prototype medium bomber biplane
M23		Template:Sort	sports plane
M24		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	passenger aircraft
M25		not constructed	sports plane
M26		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	prototype light aircraft
M27		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	sports plane
M28		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	prototype mail carrier aircraft
M29		REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	"sports/racing" aircraft
M31		" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1932	"sports plane"
"BFW M.33"|M33|	"not constructed"	"ultra-light parasol-wing single-seat monoplane"
"BFW M.35"|M35|	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1933	"sports plane developed from M23"
"IAR 36"|M36|	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1934	"passenger transport"
"Messerschmitt Bf 108"|Taifun (Typhoon)|	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1934	"trainer and transport aircraft"
"Messerschmitt Bf 109"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1935 September	"fighter and bomber interceptor; later models sometimes incorrectly labeled as 'Me 109' on subcontractor plates"
"Messerschmitt Bf 110"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1936 May 12 (DMY format)	"twin-engine heavy and night fighter"
"Messerschmitt Me 155"| |	"not built"	"high-altitude fighter derived from Bf 109; project transferred to Blohm + Voss as the Blohm und Voss Bv 155"
"Messerschmitt Bf 161"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1938	"reconnaissance prototype"
"Messerschmitt Bf 162"|Jaguar |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1937	'‘schnellbomber’' (fast bomber) based on Bf 110
"Messerschmitt Bf 163"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1938 February 19 (DMY format)	"STOL reconnaissance prototype built by Weserflug AG; lost contract to Fieseler Fi 156 Storch"
"Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet"|Komet (Comet)|	"Template:Sort"early 1941"	"rocket-powered interceptor"
"Messerschmitt Bf 165"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1937	"long-range bomber concept"
"Messerschmitt Bf 108"|Me 208|		"enhanced and larger version of Bf 108"
"Messerschmitt Me 209"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1938 August 1 (DMY format)	"built to break airspeed records; fighter adaptation unsuccessful"
"Messerschmitt Me 209 (1943)"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1943	"fighter update of Bf 109; never mass-produced"
"Messerschmitt Me 210"| |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1939 September	"twin-engine heavy fighter and reconnaissance platform"
"Messerschmitt Me 261"|Adolfine |	" REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting "1941	'long-range record-setting design; three units produced and used in reconnaissance roles'
'Messerschmitt Me 262'|'‘Schwalbe’' (Swallow)|	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '1942 July 18 (DMY format)	'twin-engine jet fighter and attack aircraft; first operational jet-powered fighter'
'Messerschmitt Me 263'|' |	'never flown'	'rocket-powered interceptor; advanced variant of Me 163'
'Messerschmitt Me 264'|'‘Amerikabomber’' (America Bomber)|	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '1942 October 23 (DMY format)	'strategic bomber developed under the Amerika Bomber initiative, competing with Ju 390 and unbuilt He 277'
'Messerschmitt Me 265'|' |	'not constructed'	'proposed attack aircraft'
'Messerschmitt Me 309'|' |	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '1942 July	'fighter designed as an advanced but underperforming successor to Bf 109'
'Messerschmitt Me 310'|' |		'one built; pressurized version of Me 210 development, proposed only'
'Messerschmitt Me 321'|' |	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '1941 March 7 (DMY format)	'large transport glider'
'Messerschmitt Me 323'|'‘Gigant’' (Giant)|	'Template:Sort'Fall 1941'	'large transport aircraft; powered derivative of Me 321'
'Messerschmitt Me 328'|' |	'Template:Sort'Fall 1943'	'pulsejet-powered selbstopfer or parasite fighter'
'Messerschmitt Me 329'|' |	'not constructed'	'heavy fighter-bomber; only unpowered glider version built'
'Messerschmitt Me 334'|' |		'tailless fighter resembling Me 163; project discontinued'
'Messerschmitt Me 362'|' |		'three-turbojet passenger aircraft; development ceased'
'Blohm & Voss Bv 155'|'Me 409'|		'high-altitude fighter project that evolved into Bv 155'
'Messerschmitt Me 410'|'‘Hornisse’' (Hornet)|	' REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting '1943	'twin-engine heavy fighter and fast bomber; derived from Me 210'
'Messerschmitt Me 509'|' |	'not constructed'	'fighter based on Me 309 with engine positioned behind cockpit similar to P-39 Airacobra'
'Messerschmitt Me 510'|' |		'twin-engine fighter-bomber design not built'
'Messerschmitt Me 609'|' |		'heavy fighter combining two Me 309 fuselages into one frame, akin to Bf 109Z and Me 409; development stopped'
'Messerschmitt P.08-01'|' |	'not flown'	'1941 flying wing strategic bomber concept'
'Messerschmitt P.1079'|		'not flown'	'long-range pusher bomber design from 1939'
'Messerschmitt P.1092'|		'not flown'	'prototype aircraft'
'Messerschmitt P.1095'|		'not flown'	'prototype multi-role aircraft'
-'not flown'- -'prototype multi-role aircraft intended as an enhanced version of the Me262'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1100'- -| -'not flown'- -'tactical bomber concept'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1101'- -| -'not flown'- -'prototype swing-wing jet interceptor that later influenced the Bell X-5'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1102'- -| -'not flown'- -'swing-wing bomber/heavy fighter design'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1103'- -| -'not flown'- -'rocket-powered interceptor'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1104'- -| -'not flown'- -'rocket-powered interceptor'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1106'- -| -'not flown'- -'planned improvement on P.1101'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1107'- -| -'not flown'- -'jet bomber design'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1109'- -| -'not flown'- -'oblique wing fighter design'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1110'- -| -'not flown'- -'high-altitude interceptor prototype'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1111'- -| -'not flown'- -'fighter/interceptor prototype'- -| -'Messerschmitt P.1112'- -| -'not flown'- -'prototype tailless jet fighter that inspired the Vought F7U Cutlass'-

Additional Aircraft Models

• Messerschmitt Me 109TL

Missile Systems

• Enzian

Compact Cars

File:Messerschmitt Kabinenroller.jpg

Messerschmitt KR200

• KR175
• KR200

Related Topics

• FMR Tg500
• List of RLM aircraft designations
• Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm