Name/Title
Medicinal Brandy BottleDescription
An amber, two fluid ounce bottle of brandy with brown paper label. The label conveys that the brandy was bottled in California under Federal government contract for the war effort.Use
US Navy vessels have been prohibited from carrying alcohol on board since General Order 99 came into effect on July 1, 1914. However, there were certain exceptions, including the use of medical brandy. Small supplies of brandy bottles such as these were kept on board the ships like the USS Yorktown to calm the nerves of shaken sailors and pilots.Context
James Kissick served as a radioman in torpedo squadron 9 (VT-9) as a part of Air Group 9. Air Group 9 participated in some of the most intense air battle of World War II from their assignments aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16) and the USS Yorktown (CV-10). Kissick noted that the aircrews passed these bottles of brandy around the cockpit from storage in the backseats following stressful missions like the Kure Raid setting up the invasion of Okinawa.Acquisition
Accession
2016.2Source or Donor
James Welsey "Jim" Kissick, Jr.Acquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Manufacturer
California Wine AssociationDate made
1942 - 1945Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
LabelLocation
On paper labelTranscription
Lot # 215509-589
2 FLUID OUNCES
BRANDY N.F.
100 PROOF
Bottled by California Wine Ass'n.
I.R.B.W. # 51 Guasti, Calif.
CALIFORNIA WINES LTD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.Language
EnglishMaterial/Technique
LabelUpdate Date
July 25, 2024
