Mighty Talks: The Short Snorter Project

The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force will host The Short Snorter Project, a traveling exhibit showcasing rare and historic World War II artifacts, on Tuesday, February 24, and Wednesday, February 25, 2026, with a presentation by The Short Snorter Project founder, Tom Sparks at 11 am.

The program is free to the public, but please register at https://forms.gle/NsYsMTHjgHECUzi18

Optional Lunch: Join us for an optional lunch afterwards. $10/12 cash/credit for members or $15/17cash/credit for non-members.

On display will be an extraordinary collection of short snorters—paper currency taped together and signed by service members and leaders as mementos of shared experiences—many bearing the signatures of some of the most influential figures of the Second World War.

Among the highlights is the short snorter of Major General Clayton Lawrence Bissell, USAAF. Measuring approximately 64 feet long, the Bissell short snorter is composed of 140 WWII-era banknotes and features at least 375 signatures from Allied admirals, generals, field marshals, air marshals, presidents, prime ministers, ambassadors, and ministers.

Also featured is the short snorter belonging to Sgt. Mickey McKeogh, the personal orderly to General Dwight D. Eisenhower throughout the duration of World War II. This artifact is signed by many of the high-ranking dignitaries Eisenhower encountered during the war, offering a tangible connection to the Allied command structure.

As part of the exhibit, Tom Sparks, founder of the educational nonprofit Short Snorter Project, will present a special program on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. as part of the museum’s Mighty Talks series. Formerly known as Author Talks, the rebranded Mighty Talks program expands the speaker lineup to include historians, subject-matter experts, and storytellers whose work extends beyond published books.

About the Speaker
Tom Sparks is the founder of the Short Snorter Project, an educational nonprofit dedicated to preserving short snorters and interpreting the stories behind them. Through research, exhibitions, and public programs, Sparks brings visibility to this unique wartime tradition and its role in documenting personal connections among service members and world leaders during World War II. Sparks will be present at the exhibition both days and available to answer questions from museum guests.