“Anti-aircraft guns all day long”: Karl Pearson and computing for the Ministry of Munitions

Barrow-Green, June

Revue d'histoire des mathématiques, Tome 21 (2015) no. 1, pp. 111-150

In December 1916 Pearson offered the services of his staff from the Drapers' Biometric Laboratory and the Galton Eugenics Laboratory at University College London, to the Ministry of Munitions. The offer was accepted with alacrity by A.V. Hill, head of the Anti-Aircraft Experimental Section, who was eager to liberate his own men from the labours of computation. From January 1917 until March 1918 Pearson worked tirelessly on the often tedious work of computing of ballistic charts, high-angle range tables and fuze-scales. He also made significant contributions to the mathematical theory behind the tables. Pearson's staff consisted of mathematicians, computers and draughtsmen. Women were an important constituent of his work force, not least because the escalating demands of conscription meant that the men were often at risk from the recruiting sergeants. Things did not always go smoothly—Pearson did not take kindly to the calculations of his staff being questioned by the mathematicians producing the data—and Hill sometimes had to work hard to keep the peace.

Au mois de décembre 2016, Karl Pearson offrit au Ministère des munitions les services de son personnel du Drapers' Biometric Laboratory et du Galton Eugenics Laboratory, à University College London. L'offre fut très vite acceptée par le chef de la Section expérimentale antiaérienne, A.V. Hill, pressé de libérer sa propre équipe du travail de calcul. De janvier 1917 à mars 1918, Pearson travailla infatigablement au calcul souvent ingrat des tableaux balistiques, des tables de tir à angle élevé, et des étalonnages de fusée. Il apporta aussi des contributions significatives à la théorie mathématique sur laquelle les tables se fondaient. L'équipe de Pearson incluait des mathématiciens, des calculateurs et des dessinateurs. Les femmes en formaient un contingent important, en particulier parce que les demandes de plus en plus grandes de la conscription rendaient les hommes vulnérables aux sergents-recruteurs. Les obstacles ne manquèrent pas — Pearson n'appréciant pas que les calculs de son équipe soient remis en question par les mathématiciens produisant les données — et Hill eut parfois du mal à maintenir la paix.

Classification : 01A60
Keywords: Karl Pearson, first world war, exterior ballistics, anti-aircraft gunnery.
Mots-clés : Karl Pearson, première guerre mondiale, balistique extérieure, artillerie anti-aérienne.

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