Willy Messerschmitt in Spain
After World War II, many of the early German construction engineers tried to survive by manufacturing products of daily need. Willy Messerschmitt built pre-fabricated houses and bubble-cars. Since Germany was prohibited to rebuild its own aviation industry until the signing of the Rome Treaty in 1955, many former aircraft specialists such as Claude Dornier, Ernst Heinkel and Willy Messerschmitt sought employment possibilities abroad. Spain seemed to be their country of choice.
The Spanish company Hispano Aviácion S.A. (Hasa) had begun the licensed construction of the Messerschmitt Me 106 G before the outbreak of World War II. The variation HA1109 in different versions followed. Since the necessary Daimler Benz DB 605 engine could no longer be delivered, the Spanish licensee decided to use the engines from Hispano Suiza but went back to the Supermarine Spitfire Rolls-Royce Merlin model engines instead. Concerning inquiries about the strength of the engines, Hasa had the former chief statistician of Messerschmitt AG, Julius Krauß, who had personal contacts to Willy Messerschmitt himself. Initially, Krauß independently dealt with the engineering of the Me 109 in Spain. In 1951, however, Messerschmitt made his first trip to Spain. The result was important contacts with the Spanish aviation industry. After his second trip in the same year, he decided to open a construction office in Spain affiliated with Hasa.
In a memorandum sent on July 1951, he assessed the situation of the Spanish aviation industry as very positive, however, made mention of gaps and deficiencies in production and construction of engines as well as their equipment sector. He made countless proposals to the government in Madrid. These proposals included a draft of a fighter jet and the construction of a series as well as the development of an aircraft that could be easily transformed and used as a transporter, passenger aircraft and bomber, and the development of new engine types. The Spanish government only accepted a few of these points. Spain was officially supported by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany until their close relationship with Messerschmitt could not resolve any negotiations. On the basis of a consultative contract with Hispano Aviacion, Messerschmitt and young German engineers began the development of a trainer with a 330 kW (450 PS) engine which was developed through the HA100 and specifications for a jet trainer which was later named the HA200 Saeta.
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