Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Graham Buschor, will speak Thursday, December 1st. His topic will be "Surviving The Perfect Storm." Lieutenant Colonel Graham Buschor is the 101 st Squadron Commander at the 106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard at Francis S. Gabreski Airport, Westhampton Beach, NY. His presentation will cover surviving the Perfect Storm. He was one of the helicopter pilots that ditched in the Atlantic Ocean October 30th, 1991. The episode is detailed in the book, The Perfect Storm, by Sebastian Junger and is also in the film. Although the Hollywood version is not accurate, the book is. He spent 5 hours in the water, with 60 foot seas and 120 knot winds before being rescued by the Coast Guard Cutter, Tamaroa. Lieutenant Colonel Buschor was born and raised in New York. He graduated from Connetquot High School and attended The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering in 1984 and a commission in the Naval Reserve as an Ensign. He transferred his commission to the New York Air National Guard as an entry level H-3 pilot in December 1985 and in February 1986 was sent to Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training (UHT). Lieutenant Colonel Buschor completed UHT in November 1986 and was an HH-3 student pilot at Kirtland Air Force Base New Mexico from December 1986 until March 1987, when he was certified as a Combat Aircrew. He served in this capacity as a traditional Guardsman until September 1989, when he was employed as a full time Air Guard Reserve. His unit changed airframes in September of 1989 to the HH-60G PaveHawk. Lieutenant Colonel Buschor was upgraded from copilot to HH-60G aircraft commander in 1992 while assigned to the 102nd Rescue Squadron. From September 1989 to February 1993 he was Training and Scheduling Officer. From February 1993 to September 1995 he was Aircraft Maintenance Officer. From September 1995 to August 2004 he was assigned as Chief of Flying Safety. Currently he is the Squadron Commander of the 101st Helicopter Squadron. Lieutenant Colonel Buschor is a command instructor pilot with more than 2,000 hours. He has flown the TH-55, UH-1, HH-3 and the HH-60. He has accumulated over 500 hours of instructor time. He was promoted to his current rank in March 2000. His major awards and decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two devices, the Air medal with 1 device, the Aerial Achievement medal with 3 devices, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal. Additional awards include the Coast Guard Special Operations Medal, the NY State Conspicuous Service Award and the NY State Medal for Valor. Lieutenant Colonel Buschor and his wife, Ann reside in Centereach, NY and they have two children, Alexander and Mary. |
