Page 59 - AAPT March 2019

Historical
On 13 April 1952, Max ‘Bluey’
Colebrook was paired with Sergeant
Phil Zupp for an attack on Haeju,
where they rocketed a supply tunnel,
revetment and buildings. Two hours
later, Max was detailed for another
attack, with Flight Lieutenant Pete
Middleton. The pair were briefed for an
armed patrol of the supply route from
Panmunjom to Pyongyang. They were
also requested to check on a heavy
gun position at Masan Ni, that Max had
previously spotted.
With Middleton leading, Max took
off in Meteor A77-627 at 1535 hrs,
with radio call sign ‘Godfrey White
2'. An attack was made on enemy
motorcyclists near Sariwon. The pair
then found the location of the heavy
gun, and Middleton dived down from
10,000 to 50 feet and passed just to
the south of the suspected gun. Without
firing, Middleton pulled up, broke port,
looked back at the location and noticed Colebrook 1951, Kimpo Korea, prior to an operational mission over North Korea.
dust clouds rising from it as if it had
been strafed. “I still have two donks going and I'm searched all the next day. Sergeant
Middleton levelled off at 5,000 feet, heading straight for home on a course of Phil Zupp thought he and his number
and was flying in a westerly direction 150.” Middleton replied, “Keep going, I'll two saw a parachute, but nothing was
when he heard Max call, “I'm hit, I'm catch up.” Middleton immediately made confirmed.
hit.” Middleton glanced to port and saw a call on the emergency channel and Max ‘Bluey’ Colebrook was reported
a Meteor flash past in the opposite then asked Max for a position report, missing believed killed. He was just
direction, with the ventral tank on fire. but there was no reply. 25. His body was never recovered and
Middleton called for Max to drop the After searching the area without any he is commemorated at the United
ventral tank, to which Max replied “has sign of the aircraft, Middleton returned Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan,
my ventral gone” or “my ventral has to base. The squadron sent more South Korea. On 21 June 1956, at UN
gone.” After a few seconds, Max said, aircraft on the search until dark and Headquarters New York, a memorial
plaque was dedicated to those who died
in Korea, in service of the UN.
As well as the DFM and US Air
Medal, Max was awarded the British
Korea Medal and the United Nations
Medal. Max is also commemorated at
Kings Park, Perth; the Australian War
Memorial, Canberra; and the Honour
Board and Book of Remembrance at
7 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets,
RAAF Pearce. The forward fuselage
of Meteor A77-368 Max flew in his dog
fight with the Mig-15 is on display at the
Australian War Memorial.
Sources:
National Archives: Colebrook M E service
record, casualty file,
Commonwealth War Graves, AWM, Aviation
Museum Bull Creek,
Brian Nairn RAAFA Merriwa, Wings of Valour
– Charles Page
Meteors over a rural village near Kimpo, South Korea 1952

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