B*U*F*F (Big Ugly Fat F*****)
Major Lothar "Nick" Maier is a native of Buffalo, NY. He entered pilot training with Aviation Cadet Class 55-M, January 1954, and was commissioned at Williams AFB, Arizona, in April 1955. Immediately after graduation, he was the first Second Lieutenant to enter SAC's Pilot AOB (Aircraft-Observer-Bombardier) course at James Connal-ly AFB, Texas, and received a Navigator rating. Assigned to B-47s at Smoky Hill AFB, Kansas, where in 1956 his crew was the first from the 40th Bomb Wing to be selected for B-52 upgrade training at Castle AFB, California, and subsequently remained there in the 93rd Bomb Wing instructor cadre.Nick was a B-52 aircraft commander for twenty years, flying the B through G model aircraft. He completed one B-52 Arc Light tour in 1969 with 70 combat missions, and was 8AF Command Post Senior Controller at Andersen AFB, Guam, during Linebacker II in 1972. Retiring as a Major in 1977, he worked 16 years in Travel Industry Management. His writings have been published in several military and travel related periodicals.