Before 1945 In 1938-1939,
Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze ("State Aviation Works"; PZL), Poland's largest aviation company, built a factory in
Mielec, designated
PZL WP-2 (
Wytwórnia Płatowców 2; "Airframe Factory no. 2"). Production there began just before the outbreak of
World War II. In March 1939, the plant began manufacturing its first aircraft —
PZL.37 Łoś bombers, assembled from components delivered from the PZL WP-1 factory in Warsaw. There were 700 workers at that time. During the occupation, the factory became a part of
Heinkel, among others producing tailfins of
Heinkel He 111 bombers, and repairing
Junkers Ju 52 aircraft. There were 5,500 workers in 1944. ==Aircraft==