47 Inventions That Sounded Bonkers at First But Turned Out to Be a Huge Success

The fake inflatable tanks of WWII are a testament to the art of illusion in warfare. The Allies used these decoys from wooden frames to the Ghost Army’s inflatable models that fooled the Axis powers. Often towed by horses, the faux tanks were a ruse that allowed real units to reposition undetected.

This crafty brigade, the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known for their sleight of hand, staged over 20 operations, their exploits remaining classified until 1996. Their legacy, now immortalized in a PBS documentary and honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, underscores the power of cunning over force.