Brigadier General Harold E. Confer was born in Culbertson in 1924. He received his wings and commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945. In 1961 Hal Confer’s crew flew the first supersonic bomber (B-58) to three new world speed records. Their record of 1,284 m.p.h. on the 1,000 kilometer course resulted in the award of the prestigious Thompson Trophy. He served as Commander of the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Deputy Commander for Operations. In 1967 he and his Reconnaissance Systems Operator Charles “Red” McNeer qualified in the SR-71, the only native Nebraskan to fly the SR-71 (the world’s fastest and highest flying aircraft). In 1969 he became Vice Wing Commander and in 1970 he moved to Wing Commander, and serving in that position until 1972.

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