Originally designed in the race for the world speed record. The prototype flew for the first time on August 1, 1938 by Herman Wurster at the Messerschmitt factory in Augsburg, Germany. The aircraft showed several defects, which were thought to be corrected in the V2 prototype until it crashed during its test flight. On April 26, 1939 Fritz Wendel managed to set a speed record of 755km/h in a V1 model, of which the fuselage is displayed here.