22 Years of service - Vietnam.  B-47,B-52, SR-71.  Lothar "Nick" Maier was born in Buffalo, NY. He entered pilot training with Aviation Cadet Class 55-M, January 1954, and was commissioned at Williams AFB, AZ April 1955. Immediately after graduation, he was the first Second Lieutenant to enter SAC's Pilot AOB (Aircraft Observer-Bombardier) course at James Connally AFB, TX and received a Navagator rating. Assigned to B-47s at Smoky Hill AFB, KS where in 1956 his crew was the first from the 40th Bomb Wing to be assigned to B-52 upgrade training at Castle AFB, CA. and subsequently remained there in the 93rd Bomb Wing training cadre. 
Nick was a B-52 aircraft commander for twenty years, flying the B through G model aircraft (BUFF). He received a SAC crew of the Month Award for an aircraft save in 1967. Served on B-52 Arc Light tour in 1969 with 70 combat missions and was 8AF Command Post Senior Controller at Anderson AFB, Guam, during Linebacker II in 1972.  Retired as a Major in 1977, he worked 16 years in Travel Industry Management.