Page 58 - AAPT March 2019

Historical
KOREAN Training School, at Uranquinty on 28

February. After training on Tiger Moths,
he progressed to Wirraways, Central
Flying School, East Sale, and then
twin-engine Oxfords at Uranquinty. Max
was awarded his ‘Wings' on 10 August
WAR HERO 1950 and won the Flying Prize for his
course. He was then posted to No.3
Squadron (Tac/R), Fairbairn, where he
flew Austers, Wirraways and Mustangs.
He was graded above average, and an
Max ‘Bluey’ Colebrook, airman with great potential.
His next posting, on 26 February
1951 was to No.77 Squadron, at Kimpo,
DFM, AM (US) Korea, where he flew the Mustang,
and later the Meteor on operations
into North Korea. Max flew 23 sorties
on the Mustang fighter and 78 on the
by Charles Page Meteor. These operations included
armed reconnaissance, rocket strikes,
napalm strikes, combat air patrols, and
Max ‘Bluey’ Colebrook was shot down flew 65 hours on Tiger Moths and was escorting US bombers.
by ground fire over Korea, and never recommended for fighters. However, On 3 November 1951, Max was
seen again. A victim of the Korean War with the war nearly over, his training flying Meteor A77-368 and was credited
(1950-1953), Max was a brilliant pilot, was discontinued, and he remustered with damaging a Mig-15 in combat.
cut short of a promising career. He was as a transport driver. He was awarded the Distinguished
one of 77 Squadron’s 41 pilots lost in He was demobilised on 20 May Flying Medal (gazetted 30 May 1952)
the war. By the time he was shot down, 1946, after which he worked as a and the US Air Medal (gazetted on 30
the war had reached a stalemate, with commercial traveller, and established October 1953). He returned to Perth
the frontline slanting across the 38th a food retail business in Perth. He on 12 December 1951 for leave and a
parallel. As the Meteor was outclassed enjoyed golf and playing tennis with posting to Pearce. However, Max then
by the Mig 15, the Squadron was tasked his friend Brian Nairn, who also had his volunteered for a second tour with 77
with ground attack and had proved most flying training cut short. Max kept up his Squadron on 11 March 1952. After
effective in this role. flying skills by flying privately. several more sorties, he was promoted
Maxwell Edwin Colebrook was born In 1949, Max reapplied for the to Pilot Officer (s/n O5895) on 12 April
in Perth on 8 May 1926 and educated RAAF and was posted to No.1 Flying 1952.
at Kalamunda State School and Hale
School, West Perth. He excelled at golf
and tennis, played for the Hale football
team, was a keen aeromodeller, and a
Boy Scout. With his auburn hair, he was
nicknamed ‘Bluey'. After leaving school
in 1940, he studied at City Commercial
College and was employed as a clerk
at Lynas Motors.
On 8 May 1942 he joined the Air
Training Corps (s/n3587) 78 Squadron,
Maylands, and achieved Stage 1
Proficiency. When Max left the ATC on
19 May 1944, his Commanding Officer
wrote ‘Excellent cadet’ on his report,
and Wing Commander Charles Snook
later gave him a glowing reference.
Max enlisted in the RAAF (442156)
on 20 May 1944 and was posted to
No.5 Initial Training School, Clontarf. He
continued to No.10 Elementary Flying
Training School, Temora, where he 2 Meteors (Colebrook in lower one) on a road reconnaissance, 1951.

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