A short snorter is a banknote

Banknote

A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...

 inscribed by people traveling together on an aircraft. The tradition was started by Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

n Bush flyers

Bush flying

Bush flying is a term for aircraft operations carried out in remote, inhospitable regions of the world. Bush flying involves operations in rough terrain where there are often no prepared landing strips or runways, frequently necessitating that bush planes be equipped with abnormally large tires,...

 in the 1920s and spread through the military

United States armed forces

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...

 and commercial aviation

Commercial aviation

Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo...

. During World War II short snorters were signed by flight crews and conveyed good luck to soldiers crossing the Atlantic. Friends would take the local currency and sign each others bills creating a "keepsake of your buddy's signatures".

The General Hoyt Vandenberg

Hoyt Vandenberg

Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg was a U.S. Air Force general, its second Chief of Staff, and second Director of Central Intelligence....

 short snorter was started in June 1942 flight over the mid-Atlantic. The Harry Hopkins

Harry Hopkins

Harry Lloyd Hopkins was one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's closest advisers. He was one of the architects of the New Deal, especially the relief programs of the Works Progress Administration , which he directed and built into the largest employer in the country...

 short snorter was collected on July 25, 1942, by an aide of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...

 at a London Conference. The D. Ray Comish short snorter was collected January 1943 at the Casablanca Conference by Dixie Clipper. The Averell Harriman short snorter was collected by him at the January 1943 Casablanca Conference as well. The General George S. Patton

George S. Patton

George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...

 snorter signatures were also collected at the Casablanca Conference. The Yalta short snorter signatures were collected on February 4–11, 1945 by Steve Early at Yalta

Yalta

Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea.The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black...

, on the Crimean Peninsula

Crimea

Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...

.

History

The tradition is believed to have been started in August 1925 in Alaska, United States. Jack Ashcroft and other Bush pilots started the tradition, which resulted in spreading through the United States military. When the short snorter was signed, the collector would have to produce it upon request, if not, they are bounded to give the signer a drink. Short snorters sell on eBay

EBay

eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...

 and at other auction venues. They are currently sold for a notably low price.

During World War II reunions, short snorters were often compared by veterans

Surviving U.S. veterans of World War II

-Number of U.S. Veterans:16,112,566 individuals were members of the United States armed forces during World War II. There were 291,557 battle deaths, 113,842 other deaths in service , and 670,846 non-mortal woundings...

. John McGarry, executive director of the Lakeshore Museum Center in Muskegon, Michigan, said that every short snorter is "unique because every soldier's story is different."

General Hoyt Vandenberg short snorter

Collector	Date	Location	Ref
General Hoyt Vandenberg Hoyt Vandenberg Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg was a U.S. Air Force general, its second Chief of Staff, and second Director of Central Intelligence....	June 1942	Over the mid-Atlantic.

Front General H.H. "Hap" Arnold Admiral Louis Mountbatten W. Averell Harriman W. Averell Harriman William Averell Harriman was an American Democratic Party politician, businessman, and diplomat. He was the son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman. He served as Secretary of Commerce under President Harry S. Truman and later as the 48th Governor of New York... John Tower John Tower John Goodwin Tower was the first Republican United States senator from Texas since Reconstruction. He served from 1961 until his retirement in January 1985, after which time he was the chairman of the Reagan-appointed Tower Commission that investigated the Iran-Contra Affair. He was George H. W... Ted Wagner Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army... Unidentified Unidentified S.W. Tower, Jr. Stephen Early - White House Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Charles P. Gross J.D. Love, Press Unidentified Colonel Frank McCarthy Back Stan Stanton (rest) Unidentified

Harry Hopkins short snorter

Collector	Date	Location	Ref
Aide of Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...	July 25, 1942	London Conference

Front Arlene Dreznal H.R. Alexander Louis Mountbatten George S. Patton, Jr. Robert D. Murphy Ross T. McIntire John McCrae John McCrae Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres... F. J. Terry Back Anthony Eden Anthony Eden Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957... Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army... Averell Harriman Stephen Early Stephen Early Stephen Tyree Early was a U.S. journalist and government official. He served as White House Press Secretary under Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945 and again under President Harry S. Truman in 1950.-Career:... Harry Butcher Harry Butcher Harry Butcher was an American racecar driver originally from Wilmington, Illinois.- Indy 500 results :... Kathleen Harriman Anthony Biddle Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. , also known as A. J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. or Tony Biddle, was a wealthy socialite who became a diplomat of the United States, and served in the United States Army during World War I and after World War II, reaching the rank of major general.-Biography:Biddle was the... Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... Stan Stanton Hal Blackburn H.C. Loomis Hoyt S. Vandenburg J.D. Love George Durno F. Langer J.B. Olendorf Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war... D. Ray Comish G.A. Bisbee Elliott Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt was a United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D...

D. Ray Comish short snorters

Collector	Date	Location	Ref
Dixie Clipper	January 1943	Dixie Clipper flight

Front Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war... Harry Hopkins Harry Hopkins Harry Lloyd Hopkins was one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's closest advisers. He was one of the architects of the New Deal, especially the relief programs of the Works Progress Administration , which he directed and built into the largest employer in the country... Greg H. Spaman Chas. W. Fredericks Arthur S. Prettyman John McCrae John McCrae Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres... Ross T. McIntire Arthur C. Black E. R. Hipsley William D. Leahy William D. Leahy Fleet Admiral William Daniel Leahy was an American naval officer, building his reputation through administration and staff work. As Chief of Naval Operations he was the senior officer in Navy, overseeing the preparations for war. After retiring from the Navy he was appointed by his close friend... Gladys Gayle Leon Henderson Leon Henderson Leon Henderson was the administrator of the Office of Price Administration from 1941 to 1942.Henderson was born in Millville, New Jersey, where he attended Millville High School, and later Swarthmore College... Back Shannon Douglas Allen George Shamas (rest) Unidentified

Averell Harriman short snorter

Collector	Date	Location	Ref
Averell Harriman	January 1943	Casablanca Conference

Front Brehon Somervell W. H. Wilbur George S. Patton, General Sir Harold MacMillan Hastings Ismay Back George C. Marshal Charles Portal H.H. "Hap" Arnold Ernest J. King Sir Dudley Pound Franklin Roosevelt Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... Elliott Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt was a United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D... Sir Alan Brooke Louis Mountbatten Harold Alexander

General George S. Patton short snorter

Collector	Date	Location	Ref
General George S. Patton	Unavailable	Casablanca Conference

Front George C. Marshall Henry H. Arnold Henry H. Arnold Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps , Commanding General of the U.S... Elliott Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt was a United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D... Lord Louis Mountbatten Harry Hopkins Harry Hopkins Harry Lloyd Hopkins was one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's closest advisers. He was one of the architects of the New Deal, especially the relief programs of the Works Progress Administration , which he directed and built into the largest employer in the country... W. Averill Harriman John G. Dill Michael F. Reilly Unidentified Unidentified Ned Dickson Omar N. Bradley Back E. F. Van Doren Peter Ross Unidentified Wilber Kaslow

Yalta short snorter

Collector	Date	Location	Ref
Steve Early	February 4–11, 1945	Casablanca Conference

Front Edward Stettinius Ross McIntyre Edward Slayman Harry Hopkins Harry Hopkins Harry Lloyd Hopkins was one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's closest advisers. He was one of the architects of the New Deal, especially the relief programs of the Works Progress Administration , which he directed and built into the largest employer in the country... James Byrnes James F. Byrnes James Francis Byrnes was an American statesman from the state of South Carolina. During his career, Byrnes served as a member of the House of Representatives , as a Senator , as Justice of the Supreme Court , as Secretary of State , and as the 104th Governor of South Carolina... William Leahy William D. Leahy Fleet Admiral William Daniel Leahy was an American naval officer, building his reputation through administration and staff work. As Chief of Naval Operations he was the senior officer in Navy, overseeing the preparations for war. After retiring from the Navy he was appointed by his close friend... Unidentified Anna Roosevelt Boettiger Back (No Signatures)

Other short snorters

Short Snorter signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt

Collector	Date	Location	Ref
Unavailable	November 22, 1943	Tehran Conference Tehran Conference The Tehran Conference was the meeting of Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill between November 28 and December 1, 1943, most of which was held at the Soviet Embassy in Tehran, Iran. It was the first World War II conference amongst the Big Three in which Stalin was present...

It was signed by Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 and various key advisors.

External links

• Short Snorter Project
• MIT Professor Albert Dietz’s short snorter, signed in 1944, turned up in a box of papers his family donated to MIT upon his death in 1998.