Whether a rather silly event which took place in August 1941 was to have any real effect on Erdös's life, or whether it was simply used as an excuse, is hard to tell. Erdös and two fellow mathematicians were picked up by the police near a military radio transmitter on Long Island.
Kung ang isang hangal sa halip na kung saan kinuha lugar ng kaganapan sa Agosto 1941 ay upang magkaroon ng anumang tunay na epekto sa Erdös ng buhay, o kung ito ay ginagamit lamang bilang isang paumanhin, ay matigas sa sabihin. Erdös at dalawang tao mathematicians ay pumili ng pulis na malapit sa isang militar radio tagapaghatid sa Long Island.