The military challenge coin is a medallion used in several divisions of the armed forces as one means of identification.  The challenge coin’s history is murky; its traditional origin points to the Army Air Corps, forerunner of the United States Air Force.

The origins of air force challenge coins began as a device promoting camaraderie and identification in World War I.  Many early pilots were volunteers, college dropouts who quit school to join.  One such collegiate, purportedly a wealthy lieutenant, commissioned several solid bronze medallions which were then presented to members of his squadron.   He placed his own coin in a leather pouch worn around his neck.  At one point during the war he crashed into German territory, forced down by ground fire.  Taken prisoner by the Germans he was stripped of all ID except for the leather pouch around his neck.

This airman was then detained in a temporary camp in a French village, pending transport to a permanent prison.  During the night British bombardment of this locale created enough ground confusion for the lieutenant to escape.

The story continues with this soldier donning civilian garb, then making his way into French territory.  The French, alert to German saboteurs in civilian clothes, captured this airman and prepared to execute him.  As he had no identification he produced the leather pouch and showed his military challenge coin.  One of his French captors allegedly recognized the insignia on the coin; the lieutenant’s execution was delayed long enough for his identity to be confirmed.

This pilot returned to his squadron.  Afterward, it became de rigueur for all pilots to carry these coins.  To enforce compliance, pilots began challenging each other.  A pilot would ask to see another’s medallion; if the challenged pilot could not produce the coin he was required to buy a round of drinks for the challenger and whoever else was present at the time of the challenge.

The USAF challenge coin has an apocryphal beginning, but it is used today, and corpsmen still buy each other drinks if they fail to produce the coin when challenged.