Airliner Manufacturers with Military Histories

[PhilDernerJr]

I was thinking before about how people in the US love Mercedes, but forget it's role with the Germans just over 60 years ago.

The same applies to planes. Enemy or not, many companies today made military aircraft back in the day.

Which ones made what? What were the more significant aircraft?

I know that Avro made the Lancaster Mark III bomber which was successful for the Brits in WW2. Dornier made some as well.

[Ari707]

Mitsubishi - the Zero amoung many others
Messershmit ( now part of Airbus)- Bf-109, Bf-262( first jet)
Douglas- A-26
Boeing- B17, B52

[NYCMedic]

Saab was formed by 16 former aircraft engineers

[GrummanFan]

BMW built airplane engines for Germany, and their current logo represents a white propeller spinning in front of a blue sky.

[N790SW]

Messershmit ( now part of Airbus)- Bf-109, Bf-262( first jet)

Really? I wonder how that happened?

[MarkLawrence]

Supermarine had some other civilian interests before the WWII Spitfire came about as far as I remember

[Ari707]

most plane manufacturers have military ties, help's pay the bills and the R & D costs