Originally Posted by
megan
I've always wondered how the Bf 109 came to be known as a "Messerschmitt" and ME 109. Messerschmitt was the chief designer at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) (Bavarian Aircraft Works), where the Bf originates in the aircraft designation. We don't talk about a Chadwick Lancaster, Camm Hurricane, Johnson P-38, Schmued P-51, so why Messerschmitt prior to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke becoming Messerschmitt in mid 1938 when subsequent designs did carry the Me prefix, the Me 163 didn't give any recognition to its designer Alexander Lippisch. No original German copy of the Bf 109 pilot notes, in any of the aircraft versions, contains the word Messerschmitt. Just curious if anyone has an insight.
Nobody actually ever called the 109 a 'BF' verbally - iirc some Germans pronounced something like 'May', some people verbally used 'messer' or some other diminuation of Messerschmitt.I always just say 109 or 190 and everybody understands.