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Abraham Wald’s studies help increase the survivability of American aircraft when hit by bullets, saving many crews during World War II.
Jewish mathematician Abraham Wald had to leave his homeland for America when Nazi Germany invaded Europe. He joined the Statistical Research Group (SRG) of scientists using mathematics to increase combat effectiveness for the military. Wald was the one who persuaded the US Navy to correct mistakes in the reinforcement of aircraft components, helping to save the lives of hundreds of American pilots during WWII.
Abraham Wald was born on October 31, 1902 into a family of Jewish teachers in Kolozsvar, Transylvania region, Hungary. In 1928, Wald graduated in mathematics from King Ferdinand I University, then obtained a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Vienna in 1931.
The mathematician Abraham Wald. Image: Wikiepdia.
Despite his talent, Wald was not accepted to work at a university due to discrimination by Austrians against Jews. Discrimination against Jews increased when Germany annexed Austria in 1938. That same year, he emigrated to the United States and studied econometrics at the invitation of the Cowles Economic Research Commission. .
After arriving in the United States, Wald worked on the SRG team at Columbia University, where he applied his statistical skills to solve many war problems.
At that time, the US military lost many fighters and pilots due to being hit by enemy fire. They’ve modeled the hardest hit locations on planes to reinforce their armor, and asked the SRG to find the best armor balance at each location hit frequently. The addition of armor makes the aircraft heavier, which increases safety but reduces the payload of the weapon.
However, Wald found gaps in the data that most of the others ignored. The US military can generally only study surviving aircraft returning to base after a battle. If the plane is shot down close to the target, it will land in enemy controlled territory. If the plane failed on its way back, it would also disappear into the sea.
Therefore, the aircraft that the US Navy can study are fighters that have landed safely on aircraft carriers or bases. Their impact positions do not represent critical points, but examples of where aircraft can be hit and continue to operate, as the crew and key components survived the rounds. .
An American plane caught fire during World War II. Image: USAF.
Wald discovered a way to estimate the impact positions of airplanes of no return, using this data to identify the weakest areas. It found that the US Navy wanted armor in parts that had little impact on aircraft performance, rather than fatal weaknesses like engines and oil tanks.
Wald’s investigation convinced the United States Navy. They shielded the most vulnerable areas of the plane, mainly the engines, rather than the locations with the most bullet holes before. As a result, US naval aircraft have increased their combat survivability, despite being shot multiple times while on duty.
On December 13, 1950, Wald and his wife were killed when the Air India plane carrying them crashed over the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India. His studies in World War II continued to influence a series of American military decisions over the following decades.
Duy Son (According to the WATM)
