Khaberni - The blood chit (Blood chit) is classified as one of the techniques adopted by military personnel for survival in case they fall into unknown areas or those under enemy control.
For the American army, the blood chit includes a message translated into several languages primarily used by pilots when their aircraft crash in enemy territories. With this message, the American pilot presents it to anyone who might help, asking for assistance such as providing a safe place, food, and helping him find a way out. In return, he receives a reward.
Historically, many similar techniques to the blood chit have appeared, with similar versions adopted in China, France, and Britain.
Older versions
In ancient China, foreign traders, diplomats, and missionaries used a type of document written in Chinese during their travels and movements in the country. During that period, they presented this document to ensure they received a type of immunity while they were on Chinese territory, as the document clarified their status and tasks.
Many sources indicate that the first to use a document very similar to the modern-day blood chit was the Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, he specialized in the field of balloon manufacturing and achieved significant milestones, including flying his balloon over Paris in 1784, astonishing the residents. A year later, he successfully crossed the English Channel and reached Britain, earning numerous awards from King Louis XVI.
While showing his balloon in various European regions, Blanchard carried a message in local languages, requesting those who found him not to harm him and to assist him, asserting he was a scientist and not an enemy, and that he was conducting an experiment.
In 1793, he was in the United States to showcase his balloon. Unpredictable about his landing site, he carried an English message asking for help from whoever found him.
The First World War
During the First World War, the blood chit notably appeared. During their missions in India and the Middle East, pilots of the Royal Flying Corps, the air arm of the British Army, carried types of documents written in four languages. With this document, the pilots requested assistance from anyone who found them and promised anyone who led them safely to British locations a valuable reward.
In the midst of the Second Sino-Japanese War that broke out in 1937, a significant number of foreigners volunteered to fight as part of the air force known as the American Volunteer Group or the Flying Tigers, fighting alongside the Chinese against the Japanese. During their movements, the squadron's pilots carried a document written in Chinese saying, "I am an American pilot. My plane has crashed. I do not speak your language. I am an enemy of the Japanese. Please give me some food and lead me towards the nearest allied center and you will receive a reward."
The Cold War
Entering the Second World War following the Pearl Harbor attack, American pilots carried many blood chits in their survival bags, written in about 50 languages and bearing the image of the American flag. With these cards, they promised a generous reward to anyone who returned an American pilot safely.
On the other hand, survival bags contained gold coins and sewing needles. To survive, some American pilots sewed the blood chits onto their jackets.
In the Korean War that broke out after World War II, American pilots used a blood chit written this time in three languages: English, Korean, and Chinese. The message was written on a durable and resistant type of fabric and also included a note that it was official and authenticated by the American military.
Within the same context of the Cold War, American pilots who flew spying missions over Eastern European countries used blood chits mostly written in languages like Czech, Hungarian, and Polish, asking the locals to protect the pilots and keep them away from Soviet forces and help them return in order to receive a reward.
