"Short Snorters" were paper currency signed by frequent flyers, typically during World War II as a symbol of travels and exploits. Drinking and piloting a plane did not mix, so participants were known to have small shots or "short snorts". Signatures were collected on currency to represent a flight and the shared experience. For more detailed information about short snorters, see the National World War II Museum, New Orleans' website.
This 1935 A $1 Silver Certificate Short Snorter shows the date of May 26, '43 written on the back top margin and exhibits a number of signatures, some we have been able to identify:
ON THE FRONT OF THE BILL:
- Red Ruffing: 1941 World Series champion New York Yankees team member and Baseball Hall of Famer. By 1943 he was serving in the Army Air Forces (despite being 39 years old and missing four toes on his left foot). (Source: "The New York Yankees in Wartime", Society of American Baseball Research)
ON THE BACK OF THE BILL:
- Capt. Chris. M__son: Possibly Christopher Mason?
- __g Roy Warner: There was a pilot of this name, but he died in 1942. I found a number of other men of this name who served in World War II
- James __ Mc_____:
- ______O'Malley:
- Chief John H_______: Possibly John Hammond?
- Fred O'Shea:
- Mike Dooling:
- Leo J. Burns: Burns was the possible owner at one time of this short snorter since his name appears printed in pencil on the right margin and "Short Snorter" also appears in pencil, printed on the left margin of the bill. A man named Leo J. Burns, a World War II Veteran, is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, tombstone indicating he served in the US Navy during the war, but of course there could have been more than one man of that name.
Whoever is the high bidder on this piece will surely enjoy researching this short snorter to determine why & where these men were together on May 26, 1943.