Max Conrad

Max Arthur Conrad Jr. (January 21, 1903 – April 3, 1979, in Summit, New Jersey) known as the "Flying Grandfather", For his efforts, he was awarded the Louis Blériot medal in 1952 and the prestigious Harmon Trophy in 1964. Winona Municipal Airport, also known as Max Conrad Field, in Winona County, Minnesota, is named in his honor. Conrad was nominated for the Carnegie Medal for heroism for flying his Piper aircraft in 50-60 mph winds during and after the 1940 Armistice Day Blizzard to locate and help rescue stranded duck hunters throughout the Mississippi River backwaters near Winona. Over several flights, Conrad dropped tins with whiskey, sandwiches, cigarettes, and matches to marooned survivors struggling to survive in temperatures below . Conrad helped direct rescue boats to survivors via his flight paths. Dozens of hunters died as a result of the unexpected storm that saw temps drop from more than to single digits and dumped up to of snow.

Biography Conrad was born on January 21, 1903, in Winona, Minnesota, where he later attended Cotter High School, graduating in 1921.

In 1929, while Conrad operated Conrad Flying Service, a woman was killed at Frontenac, Minnesota, when she walked into the spinning propeller of Conrad's aircraft. He had jumped out to try and stop her but was himself struck in the head. Conrad took months to recover.

One of Conrad's students during 1940 was Arthur "Art" Donahue who, as a teenager, learned to fly at Conrad Flying Service. After learning how to fly and becoming Minnesota's youngest commercially certificated pilot at the age of 19, Donahue worked for Conrad helping to run the flight school until he left to join the Royal Air Force.

Conrad's brother was killed in a plane crash.

Record flights

Flights from Casablanca From June 2–4, 1959 Conrad flew Comanche 250 N110LF non-stop from Casablanca, Morocco to Los Angeles, a distance of .

Awards On August 8, 1965, Conrad was named that year's winner of the Harmon International Aviation Trophy, (although the New York Times indicates that Joan Smith also received the trophy for the flight, the official Harmon Trophy site does not list her).

Family Max and his wife Betty had ten children.