Sunday 23 August 2015

history - Save our WWII planes


This is an actual piece of real history, and an illustration of smart thinking.


During WWII, Allied airforces were having a difficult time getting their bombers to withstand German artillery. Their planes desperately needed some armour to increase the chances of them surviving bomb runs. Unfortunately armour is heavy, so it could only be applied in specific areas where it was absolutely needed.


A mathematician named Abraham Wald examined the surviving planes, making a note of where the artillery damage was most severe. The military felt these damaged areas were obviously the most vulnerable parts of the plane and therefore should should have the armour applied to them. Wald, however, recommended that armour be added to the areas that hadn't been damaged by the artillery fire.


Why?



Answer



Because ...



... the examined planes made it home more or less safely. That means that the holes weren't critical.

On the other hand, the planes that were shot down and therefore couldn't be examined were hit in other places — the places that could probably do with some extra armour.




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