A blood chit is a written notice identifying a downed flyer as a friend of the locals. It is written in their language and asks for assistance from the locals-- especially in hiding from the enemy and providing the flyer with medical care.

The concept of the blood chit came about in 1793 when French balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard was conducting the first balloon flight in North America. Blanchard did not speak English and had no idea where the balloon would touch down so George Washington gave him a letter stating that who ever found Blanchard was to help him return to Philadelphia.

The most famous Blood Chit was carried by the American Volunteer Group in WWII. I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with the Flying Tigers' Blood Chit.


It is unknown how the Flying Tigers first learned of the Blood Chit. It is suspected that the RAF in Burma gave the AVG the idea. RAF fliers had carried the earliest chits in The First World War over India and Mesopotamia.

When the US officially entered the war, it issued blood chits to all its fliers in a variety of different language. The practice of issuing chits continued through Korea and Vietnam and continues today.

More information on blood chits:
http://cbi-theater-4.home.comcast.ne...bloodchit.html
http://www.aiipowmia.com/histories/histchit.html
http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/blood_chit.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_chit

Thanks for the picture.

I wonder why this is called blood chit ?

The term "Blood Chit" is derived from the Chinese for "Life Payment." A chit is a promise of payment or reward, and blood indicates life. Therefore a Blood Chit can be considered the promise of a reward for the flyer's life. The message was clear and easily recognized by the Chinese.

From a page provided above

http://cbi-theater-4.home.comcast.ne...bloodchit.html

__________________
Best Regards,
JW

hmm i learned a little more about the Flying Tigers, Thx!!!

__________________

P-40, P-51, and the Spitfire for my opinion these were the three best allied aircraft.

Certainly chits were issued to some, but equally certain, not to all; in fact chits were not routinely issued at all.

Rich

__________________
I wonder what this button does . . .