Founded by Willi Messerschmitt at Bamberg in 1923 as
Messerschmitt Flugzeugbau; became GmbH April
28,1926. Merged
M 20
with Bayerische Flugzeugwerke 8
September 1927, but reconstituted June 1931 when BFW
collapsed. BFW reformed 1933 and renamed Messerschmitt
AG 11 July 1938. Amalgamated with Bolkow
as Messerschmitt Bolkow GmbH 1968 and then with Hamburger
Flugzeugbau to form
Bf 109
Messerschmitt-Bolkow-
Blohm 14 May 1969. S-16 powered glider flown
1924; M-18 three-passenger, single-engined airliners built
for Nordbayerische Verkehrsflug AG and others 1925.
Developed into M-20 and M-20b built for Lufthansa 1928.
Highly successful M-23 two-seat sporting monoplane
introduced 1929.
After
Me-163 "Komet"
being renamed in 1938 continued production of
BFW's Bf 108 and of Bf 109 fighter, Bf 110 twin-engined
long-range fighter. Rocket-powered Me 163 fighter first
flown August 1941, and first of Me 262 twin-jet fighters
on 18
Me-262
July 1942. Bf 110 developed into Me 210 fighter-bomber
first flown September 2,1939, built up to 1944,
and reengined Me 410, which made maiden flight in late 1942. Me 321 Gigant troop carrier/cargo glider (54.68m
Me-323
wingspan) introduced 1941; 175 built together
with 201 of Me 323 powered version with six Gnome-
Rhone radial engines.
Reconstituted postwar company formed Flugzeug-Union
Sud with Heinkel in August 1956, building Fouga
Magister under license and later taking part in programs
for Fiat G.91, Lockheed F-104G, Transall C.160 and Bell
UH-1D.
