LtCol US Marine Corps

He entered Western Kentucky University in the fall of 1940 and signed up for US Navy Flight School in January 1942, where he was sent to Navy Pre-Flight School at University of Georgia at Athens. After Primary Flight School at Naval Air Station St Louis, MO, he performed Flight Training and Final Squadron Flight Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, graduating in July 1943. He was "checked-out" in F4U "Corsair" aircraft in MCAS El Toro, CA. In January 1944, he was assigned to squadron VMF-115, on Emirau, Northern Solomons, commanded by Major Joe Foss. LTC Buchser flew 101 combat missions in the South Pacific and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses. In the years after World War II, he was an instructor in Advanced Fighter Training, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, was a member of the US Navy Flight Exhibition Team (later known as the "Blue Angels") and spent 3 years as an air traffic controller. After being recalled to active duty in 1951, he spent a year aboard aircraft carriers USS F D Roosevelt and USS Tarawa flying F2H-2 Banshees. In 1952-53, he was transferred to airfield K-3, Po'Hang Dong, Korea, MAG 33, VMF-115, flying F9F Pantherjets on 87 missions, including Strike Leader to Pyongyang (North Korean capital), earning him his third Distinguished Flying Cross. As Provost Marshall, he received a Bronze Star with a Combat V for relieving an Air Force Radio outpost under attack by guerrillas. From 1953 to 1956, he was Commanding Officer of several squadrons and chief test pilot for 3rd Marine Air Wing for fighter and attack aircraft. On release from active duty in 1956, he joined Douglas Aircraft in Production Test for the A4D-1 "Skyhawk" until joining National Air Lines later that year as a co-pilot in various aircraft. He was promoted to Captain in 1967, in B-727s, and qualified Captain on DC-10s in 1975. Pan American World Airways merged National Airlines in 1978, and he continued flying DC-10s and the Miami Dolphins charter 727s until retiring from PanAm and the US Marine Corps as Lt Col on April 4, 1982.

He was predeceased by his parents, Edmund Buschser Sr and Lavon Askins Dowell Buchser. He was survived by his wife of 31 years; a daughter and a son; five grandchildren; a brother; and a sister-in-law.

Visitation was held Friday, January 15, 2010, followed by a funeral service at Fred Hunters Downtown Fort Lauderdale Funeral Home.