27 replies to this topic

[Potomophobia]

During WWII....that's World War 2 for all you youngsters..... the Air Force hired statisticians to study the bullet hole patterns of bombers returning from flights over Germany to determine where best to shield planes in future bombing raids.

Their recommendation was to place extra shielding over the areas that were unscathed.

What was their reasoning?

$10 transfer on Poker Stars to the first correct answer.

[Knollie919]

those spots were gonna get hit next so they planned ahead lol

[Loismustdie]

During WWII....that's World War 2 for all you youngsters..... the Air Force hired statisticians to study the bullet hole patterns of bombers returning from flights over Germany to determine where best to shield planes in future bombing raids.

Their recommendation was to place extra shielding over the areas that were unscathed.

What was their reasoning?

$10 transfer on Poker Stars to the first correct answer.

Because those planes were able to fly back,hence able to take bullets in those spots, and presumably not others. Ship it.

[Flushgarden]

Because the planes that were shot made it back...so the plane can handle being shot in the spots they were shot in. But the planes that were shot down were likely shot in other spots...the spots that were unscathed on the the planes that made it back.

[bull62]

The planes could obviously survive hits to the areas that were already hit, so extra shielding to the areas they were unsure about.

[vbnautilus]

The ones with bullet holes did not blow up! The ones not coming back must have had bullet holes in the unscathed areas...

[Governator]

Nevermind, I suck

[Loismustdie]

Nevermind, I suck

O.k., that made me laugh out loud.

[chrozzo]

i dunno...but im awesome so ill take $10 anyways

weeeeeeeeee

[Veener Schnitz]

During World War II, statistician Abraham Wald tried to determine where to add extra armor to airplanes. Based on the patterns of bullet holes in returning airplanes, he suggested that the parts not hit should be protected with extra armor. Why?


Wald was looking at what is sometimes called "dead evidence." He reasoned like this... if these planes are returning, we know that if they are hit in the spots they have been hit, they can still fly. The planes that did not return must have been hit in different places. So put the extra armor wherever the returning planes were not hit.

I think most people would have a natural inclination to put the armor where the returning planes had been hit. The real answer is simple, but counterintuitive. It's called "dead evidence" because it is what people ignore when they make these judgments. For instance, you may see a story on tv about how to survive a plane crash. The producers will interview 10 plane crash survivors, and figure out what they did in common, then recommend that you do that too. What they don't think about is how many people did those same things, but still died in the crash. The dead can't be interviewed, so we will never know.

VeenerSchnit (Buffalo)

[Chris E]

I think I'm too late, although planes were more likely to take shots in the wings and gunner's station the planes could likely return home nevertheless, the plane could not return if it took shots to the cockpit or fueltanks.

[acesup85]

The places that were hit by bullet holes were clearly not vital to the plane if it made it back alright.

[Potomophobia]

Man..... I have to come up with tougher questions.

Loismustdie is correct. Since the planes coming back with bullet holes were still able to fly, other ares of the plane must have been more critical to the functioning of the aircraft.

Let me know your Poker Stars name and I will ship it.

Well done.

[code1390]

Man..... I have to come up with tougher questions.

Loismustdie is correct. Since the planes coming back with bullet holes were still able to fly, other ares of the plane must have been more critical to the functioning of the aircraft.

Let me know your Poker Stars name and I will ship it.

Well done.

10 way chop?

[Knollie919]

my answer is the same just not worded well lol

[Knollie919]

ok so its not even close but it was worth a shot

[Loismustdie]

Man..... I have to come up with tougher questions.

Loismustdie is correct. Since the planes coming back with bullet holes were still able to fly, other ares of the plane must have been more critical to the functioning of the aircraft.

Let me know your Poker Stars name and I will ship it.

Well done.

Pancakelover. City,Glendale.

Pancakelover because I am a fatass, and could think of nothing else the day I signed up on Stars.

And, thank you. It's my first tourney win in a year.

[runthemover]

During WWII....that's World War 2 for all you youngsters..... the Air Force hired statisticians to study the bullet hole patterns of bombers returning from flights over Germany to determine where best to shield planes in future bombing raids.

Their recommendation was to place extra shielding over the areas that were unscathed.

What was their reasoning?

$10 transfer on Poker Stars to the first correct answer.

they were commies plotting against America

[Loismustdie]

During World War II, statistician Abraham Wald tried to determine where to add extra armor to airplanes. Based on the patterns of bullet holes in returning airplanes, he suggested that the parts not hit should be protected with extra armor. Why?
Wald was looking at what is sometimes called "dead evidence." He reasoned like this... if these planes are returning, we know that if they are hit in the spots they have been hit, they can still fly. The planes that did not return must have been hit in different places. So put the extra armor wherever the returning planes were not hit.

I think most people would have a natural inclination to put the armor where the returning planes had been hit. The real answer is simple, but counterintuitive. It's called "dead evidence" because it is what people ignore when they make these judgments. For instance, you may see a story on tv about how to survive a plane crash. The producers will interview 10 plane crash survivors, and figure out what they did in common, then recommend that you do that too. What they don't think about is how many people did those same things, but still died in the crash. The dead can't be interviewed, so we will never know.

VeenerSchnit (Buffalo)

This guy took way to long to cut and paste.

[Potomophobia]

Shipped.

Let me think of a tougher question.