Willy Messerschmitt
Wilhelm Emil "Willy" Messerschmitt (; 26 June 1898 – 15 September 1978) was a German
aircraft designer and manufacturer. In 1934, in collaboration with
Walter Rethel, he designed the
Messerschmitt Bf 109, which became the most important
fighter aircraft in the
Luftwaffe as
Germany rearmed prior to
World War II. It remains the second most-produced warplane in history, with some 34,000 built, behind the Soviet
Ilyushin Il-2. Another Messerschmitt aircraft, first called "Bf 109R", purpose-built for record setting, but later redesignated
Messerschmitt Me 209, broke the absolute world airspeed record and held the world speed record for propeller-driven aircraft until 1969. Messerschmitt's firm also produced the first
jet-powered fighter to enter service – the
Messerschmitt Me 262.
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