Medicinal Brandy Bottle

Name/Title

Medicinal Brandy Bottle

Description

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

2016.2

Source or Donor

James Welsey "Jim" Kissick, Jr.

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Manufacturer

California Wine Association

Date made

1942 - 1945

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Location

On paper label

Transcription

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

English

Material/Technique

Label

Update Date

July 25, 2024