A mathematician, Abraham Wald, pointed out that perhaps the reason certain areas of the planes weren’t covered in bullet holes was that planes that were shot in certain critical areas did not return.
This insight led to the armor being re-enforced on the parts of returning planes where there were no bullet holes. This wisdom was also beneficially applied to the Skyraider during the Korean War.
This shows that the reasons why we are missing certain data may be more meaningful than the available data, itself.
So, in all the many questions we ask here on GAW, don’t only listen to what the evidence says, listen also to what is not being said.
My grandfather was a WWII vet. He worked in armament in the European theater. He told stories of continually sending out 20 planes with 10 guys each and not one of them making it back. When one did come back, it was blasted with so many holes it was unbelievable it was still flying.
He also told the story that, as armament, he was first on the scene to strip the ordinance etc from the wrecked planes. He described the carnage inside of those wrecks that greeted him. Truly not a snowflake experience to say the least. One that really haunted him was seeing the backbone and ribs of some guy still strapped into a parachute. Also, he told of the surf of Normandy being red with blood the day after D-day.
I pray this war does not go kinetic in that horrible all encompassing way that it did in WWII.
God Bless your Grandfather and all who served. 🇺🇸