In the China-Burma-India threatre of World War II, Flying Tiger pilots were issued silk Blood Chits by the Chinese government.  The chits identified the bearer as a friend of the Chinese.  They asked the Chinese people to protect and  help downed flyers, which they did with enthusiasm.

At the top of the chit was the flag of the Nationalist Government of China with a white sun and twelve rays (not a star, not a flower).  You can find the literal translation and the meaning of the characters below our AVG blood chit.

The blood chits did not promise a reward, did not carry the pilot's name, and did not carry Chiang Kai-shek's signature or chop.  Silk blood chits were stamped with a serial number and the chop of the Nationalist Government's  Commission for Aeronautical Affairs.

When pilots sewed their chits onto their flight suits or jackets, they did not wear well. and they would be available only if they wore that particular garment.   Many aviators carried their official blood chit in a convenient pocket or sewed it into their jacket lining as an extra pocket.

Pilots often had a copy made of their chit from dyed leather purchased from local merchants.  They hand cut the Chinese sun and and hand painted the Chinese characters.  Then they sewed their new chit onto their flight suit or jacket.   Hand-made leather replicas did not carry a serial number or Commission for Aeronautical Affairs chop.

We made our AVG blood chit from four pieces of leather, each cut and sewn by hand. The Nationalist Chinese flag at the top of the patch is made from red, white and blue goatskin. It took the skill of a craftsman to accurately sew the points of the Chinese sun in the flag. The Chinese lettering is painted on white goatskin.