Original Items: Only One Grouping Available. China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the United States military designation during World War II for the China and Southeast Asian or India–Burma (IBT) theaters. Operational command of Allied forces (including U.S. forces) in the CBI was officially the responsibility of the Supreme Commanders for South East Asia or China. However, US forces in practice were usually overseen by General Joseph Stilwell, the Deputy Allied Commander in China; the term "CBI" was significant in logistical, material and personnel matters; it was and is commonly used within the US for these theaters.
 
U.S. and Chinese fighting forces in the CBI included the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the Flying Tigers, transport and bomber units flying the Hump, including the Tenth Air Force, the 1st Air Commando Group, the engineers who built the Ledo Road, the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), popularly known as "Merrill's Marauders", and the 5332d Brigade, Provisional or 'Mars Task Force', which assumed the Marauders' mission.
 
This Grouping Consists of the Following Items:

- Leather Blood Chit: This is a very lovely original leather blood shit. It bears a World War Two Chinese National Flag with an American flag and Chinese Characters at the bottom painted. Every aspect of this chit is constructed out of separate pieces of leather except for the handwriting. Measures 11 ⅝” x 9 ⅝”. This would have been stitched to the back or inside lining of a U.S. Aviator flight jacket. These were issued as part of the standard contents of a China Burma India Survival set. A blood chit is a notice carried by military personnel and addressed to any civilians who may come across an armed-services member – such as a shot-down pilot – in difficulties. As well as identifying the force to which the bearer belongs as friendly, the notice displays a message requesting that the service member be rendered every assistance. Some CBI crew members had problems with the flags sewn to the backs of their jackets. It was reported that a few who landed in Communist Chinese territory with the Nationalist flag emblazoned on their jackets had difficulty explaining their allegiance to the Nationalists. Many had their flags sewn on the inside.

- (3) Patches: The patches include a U.S. Army Air Force patch is a winged star emblem embroidered in yellow, white, and red on a blue twill circle, CBI Shield Patch and a “Flying Tiger” 14th Air Forces patch. All 3 patches are in lovely condition,

- “Solid Brass” Army Air Corps Web Belt Buckle: The buckle shows slight age and minor tarnishing on the front.

This is a wonderful opportunity to add a lovely CBI bloodchit grouping. Comes more than ready for display!


The first blood chit may have been made in 1793 when French balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard demonstrated his hot air balloon in the United States. 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, according to legend, gave him a letter that said that all U.S. citizens were obliged to assist him to return to Philadelphia.
 
In World War I, British Royal Flying Corps 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. The British officer John Masters recorded in his autobiography that Pathan women in the North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955) of British India (now modern day Pakistan) during the Anglo-Afghan Wars would behead and castrate non Muslim soldiers who were captured, like British and Sikhs.
 
In the Second 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 translates 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 U.S. officially entered World War II in December 1941, flight crew survival kits included blood chits printed in 50 different languages that sported an American 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 U.S. flight crews that flew over Asia had their "blood chit" sewn to the back of their flight jackets. Some units added the blood chit to the crew's flight suits while other units gave the blood chit out only for specific flights. Currently, blood chits are a product of the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency. These recent government-issue items are a small sheet of Tyvek material with an American flag and a statement in several languages indicating that the U.S. will reward anyone assisting the bearer to safety. They constitute a written promise of the US Government.
 
While serving in the Global War on Terrorism, some U.S. service members were issued "blood chips" that looked similar to bearer bonds and guaranteed $500,000 for "aid and safe return". They were issued before missions for select ground and convoy personnel, and were placed inside a soldier's ballistic vest prior to missions.