h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ever wonder... Why do kamakazi pilots wear helmets?

If they got a head injury before they reached their target, they would have died for no reason.

One kamikazi pilot gets a mention in 'The Book of Heroic Failures' by Stephen Pile. The pilot returned unharmed from every one of his suicide missions, and went on to write a book about how unsafe the Japanese planes had been!

I think its the same reason a guy going to the electric chair asked for fat-free dressing at his last meal.

I can understand that.

Squashed brains are much neater if kept inside the helmet rather than just splattered all over the plane, not that any of it matters it was just a thought

Douglas Adams wrote a sketch to this effect way back when he was starting out as a comedy writer, for (I think) Weekending. It was published in the Comic Relief Sketch Book, with Douglas' comment that at last now he was successful they had to accept it!

That also is understandable.

I've heard it said that if someone had a heart attack on the gallows before the lever is pulled, they have to rush them to hospital and treat them normally. When they've fully recovered they go to the gallows. I don't know if this is true.

I've heard similar. Can't execute an unwell person.