Blood chit
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Blood chit is a notice that is carried by the military, usually aircraft personnel, that displays messages aimed at the civilians that ask them to help the pilot in case they are shot down. Alternative names are escape and identification flags.
The idea of blood chit originates from 1793 when French balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard demonstrated his hot air balloon in USA. Because he could not control the direction of the balloon, no one knew where he would land. Because Blanchard did not speak English, George Washington gave him a letter that said that all US citizens were obliged to assist him to return to Philadelphia.
In World War I, British Royal Air Force pilots in India and Mesopotamia carried a "goolie chit" printed in four local languages that promised a reward to anyone who would bring an unharmed British aviator back to British lines.
In the Sino-Japanese War prior to World War II, foreign volunteer pilots of Flying Tigers carried notices printed in Chinese that informed the locals that this foreign pilot was fighting for China and they were obliged to help them. A text from one such blood chit read as follows:
- "I am an American airman.
- My plane is destroyed.
- I cannot speak your language.
- I am an enemy of the Japanese.
- Please give me food
- and take me to the nearest Allied military post.
- You will be rewarded."
When the USA officially joined the war in 1941, flight crew survival kits included blood chits printed in 50 different languages that sported a US flag and promised a reward for a safe return of a pilot. The kit might also include gifts like gold coins, maps or sewing needles. Many US flight crews that flew over Asia had their "blood chit" sewn to the back of their flight jackets. Some units just added the blood chit to the flight suit when others gave the blood chit only for the specific flights in exchange of personal belongings.
US pilots have carried blood chits in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and in every armed conflict since. The modern version also includes some money.