Company started 4 July 1933 as Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH, subsidiary of Blohm und Voss of Hamburg, Germany's largest shipbuilding firm. Reinhold Mewes appointed designer and produced Ha 135 trainer, but then left to join Fieseler. Dr Richard Vogt came from Kawasaki and produced series of generally unconventional aircraft: Ha 137 dive-bomber, Ha (later BV) 138 reconnaissance flying-boat, Ha 139 mail seaplane, Ha 140 torpedo seaplane, Ha (later BV) 141 asymmetric reconnaissance aircraft and Ha (later BV) 142 transport. Renamed Abteilung Flugzeugbau der Schiffswerft Blohm und Voss September 1937. Large new plant at Hamburg Finkenwerder built Fw 200C and BV 222, and prototypes of BV 238 giant flying-boat and BV 40 glider fighter. BV 144 transport programme assigned to French industry. Company also produced air-launched weapons. Me 155 high-altitude fighter passed to BV for production; after arguments BV given responsibility to effect complete redesign as BV 155.