COLEBROOK, Maxwell Edwin
| Service Numbers: | 442156, A5895, O5895 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 May 1944 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia , 8 May 1926 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Kalamunda State School, WA & Hale School Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Traveller & Storekeeper |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 13 April 1952, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, Korea |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Ipswich Korean War Memorial, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Lithgow War Memorial, Norfolk Island Korean War Memorial, Wagga Wagga Korean Memorial, Wembley Downs Hale School Honour Roll 2, Wembley Downs Hale School Memorial Grove |
World War 2 Service
| 20 May 1944: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 442156 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 442156 |
Korean War Service
| 10 Aug 1950: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Airman Pilot, RAAF Point Cook | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1950: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 25 Feb 1951: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O5895 | |
| 25 Feb 1951: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O5895, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 25 Feb 1951: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, A5895, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 25 Feb 1951: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 24 Dec 1951: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, RAAF Pearce, R.T.A. after completing his first operational tour in Korea. | |
| 9 Mar 1952: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O5895 | |
| 9 Mar 1952: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF), Commenced second operational tour in Korea. | |
| 11 Apr 1952: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF), Airman Pilot Commissioned. | |
| 13 Apr 1952: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O5895, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF), MIA presumed dead. | |
| 5 Jun 1952: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Medal | |
| 5 Nov 1953: | Honoured US Air Medal |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
History
Pilot Officer Maxwell Edwin Colebrook SN O5895/442156, DFM (AKA Blue) was born in Perth On 08 May 1926, finished school in 1941. He was employed as a Clerk at LinasMotors, before enlisting in the RAAF on 20 May 1944 for aircrew training. He completed basic training when the Empire Pilot training scheme was demobilisedand re-mustered as transport driver in May 1945 before discharging in May 1946 as an LAC. He then managed a successful Grocery store before going in partnership with his Brother as a Commercial Traveller. He re-enlisted RAAF in 1949 as trainee Pilot and graduated on 10 Aug 1950. He was posted to 77Squadron in Korea on 26 Feb 1951 and completed first tour on 12 Dec 1951.During this tour he converted from Mustangs to Meteors and was awarded the DFM for skill and determination in flying sorties against superior forces, along with the US Air Medal. He was posted back to Korea 09 Mar 1952 for second Tour and was MIA 13 Apr 1952, aged 26.
Short Summary mission
Pilot Officer Maxwell Edwin COLEBROOK, DFM Service No: O5895, DoB: 8 May 1926, MIA 13 April 1952, LKP TOKYO GRID YC 500 610 latitude and longitude 38 28 07.44N 125 51 49.31E
On 13 April 1952, PLTOFF Colebrook and FLTLT Middleton, flying Meteors, were tasked to conduct armed reconnaissance on the supply route between Pan MunJomand Pyongyang and specifically to confirm a heavy gun position at Masan Ni. Upon arrival at Masan Ni, FLTLT Middleton conducted low level pass of the suspected gun position. Shortly after the low level pass, PLTOFF Colebrook is believed to have completed a strafing run and called he was hit. He passed FLTLT Middleton at 5000ft with his ventral tank on fire. PLTOFF Colebrook called that ventral tank is gone and was heading to home plate tracking 140 Magnetic. That transmission was received at 1615hrs and was the last heard from PLTOFFColebrook. FLTLT Middleton did not see an aircraft crash and conducted a search of the area but with no sign of aircraft, parachute or pilot. PLTOFF Colebrook’s estimated position is listed as YC 500 610 latitude and longitude 38 28 07.44N 125 51 49.31E which is the target position butislikely to be between Target and home plate, but closer to the Target site. At last light, a possible parachute was sighted approx. 13 miles South East (BT4040, 38016'20"N 126001'45"E) of the target along the return track to Home but could not be confirmed as PLTOFF Colebrook, and cannot be discounted. LKP is listed TOKYO GRID YC 500 610 latitude and longitude 38 28 07.44N 125 51 49.31E (Target site) and assessed that most likely on a track 140 Magnetic to Home Plate, but closer to the target site.
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