“Goodbye” Willy Messerschmitt – Died 15 September 1978

Wilhelm Emil “Willy” Messerschmitt (/’vĭli ‘messer shmĭt/) (June 26, 1898 – September 15, 1978) was a German aircraft designer and manufacturer, born in Frankfurt am Main.

Probably Messerschmitt’s single most important design was the Messerschmitt Bf 109, designed in 1934 with the collaboration of Walter Rethel. The Bf 109 became the most important fighter in the Luftwaffe as Germany re-armed prior to World War II. To this day, it remains the most-produced fighter in history, with some 35,000 built.