MESSERSCHMITT

Messerschmitt was a German aircraft manufacturing corporation founded in 1938. The company was named after its chief designer Willy Messerschmitt and is primarily known for designing and manufacturing World War II fighter aircraft such as the Bf 109 and Me 262. Although the company survived the war, it underwent several mergers and changes in name, eventually becoming Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm before being acquired by Deutsche Aerospace (DASA), which is now a part of Airbus, in 1989. Messerschmitt produced both commercial airliners and military aircraft during its operation. Its history dates back to early 20th-century Germany when the engineering company MAN AG and several banks came together to purchase an unprofitable aircraft builder, thus forming Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (B.F.W.). Due to the immediate need for aircraft production during World War I, BFW manufactured aircraft under Albatros Flugzeugwerke’s license. The company faced initial quality issues, but organizational changes and more intensive assembly line supervision resolved the problems by the end of 1916. Despite early difficulties, BFW went on to become one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in Bavaria with over 200 aircraft produced per month and a workforce of 3,000 employees. After the war, BFW experienced financial difficulties but was eventually reorganized into Messerschmitt AG in 1938.