Pilot William Franklin Buckelew
United States Department of Justice - Border Patrol
U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, July 23, 1954
Cause: Aircraft accident

Biographical Info
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 9 years, 5 months
Badge Number: Not available

Pilot Buckelew and Inspector Donald Kee were killed in an airplane accident near Rio Grande City, Texas, while conducting flights to check farm laborers. The plane was banking to return to a field when it suddenly plunged into a river. Inspector Kee was killed on impact and Pilot Buckelew succumbed to his injuries en route to a hospital.

Pilot Buckelew was survived by his wife. He is buried in the Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.