Original Items: Only One Set Available. Here we have a lovely named set of U.S. WWII Army Air Forces items, both named to Dominick J. Bizzoco, a member of the 348th Fighter Group during WWII. The first item is a copy of The AIRCRAFT YEAR BOOK For 1941, published by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America, Inc.. It is named on the inside of the front cover with:
Dominick J. Bizzoco
SELFRIDGE FIELD
MICHIGAN
NOVEMBER 1941.
Today known as Selfridge Air National Guard Base, this field was used by the First Air Force during WWII. Information with the book indicates that it was used during flight school training, probably due to the large amount of information it contains on the state of the Aircraft industry of the time, as well as having a lot of information about current production aircraft.
The second item in the set is a lovely framed and matted USAAF Pacific Theatre blood chit, which has a visible portion measuring 7 1/4" x 10", but is most likely larger. Due to this we unfortunately cannot see the control number on the chit. It looks to be in excellent condition. The frame itself measures 12 1/8" x 14 7/8", and the the rear of the frame has the following information:
DOMINICK JAMES BIZZOCO
S/SGT. / TEMPORARY 1ST. LT.
348TH FIGHTER GROUP
5TH AIR FORCE
USAAF
OCTOBER 1940 - 1945
The blood chit bears a World War Two printed Chinese National Flag with Chinese Characters and a temple stamp. This would have been stitched to the back or inside lining of a U.S. Aviator flight jacket.
We have not been able to find much information on Bizzoco, but there is definitely lots of information out there on the 348th Fighter Group. Definitely a great display and research opportunity here!
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.
History
The idea of blood chit originates from 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 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.
United States Armed Forces
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.
