Citation
mentioned in Despatches (NY 1946) for
distinguished service
with 485 Squadron RNZAF (Spitfire).
From
Waipawa, Hawke's Bay. Enlisted with the RNZAF
4th.April 1942.
Trained Bell Block, New Plymouth, on Tiger Moths.
Then, with many others,
at the Empire Training School, Canada. Advanced
training on Harvards, Yales.
Flight
of MILES MASTER 2s
Sailed
with other air and ground crews to the UK.
Landed there April 1943 and posted to 485
Squadron,
Drem in Scotland. Trained on Miles Masters 1s
& 2s.
Max took part in the
usual sorties 485 were involved in.
Whilst 'on the job' after the invasion of
Europe, at an occupation drome, (B105,
Drobe, Germany),
June 1945,
he had the misfortune of another Spitfire
landing from behind and on top of his
aircraft. Its prop chewed its way up to
his cockpit where,
luckily, it stopped...but left him with
lacerations.
Both aircraft were write-offs.
Max's U/S MkXVI OUD
Drope, Germany 19 June '45
Max
was shot down about the time the allied armies
were
crossing the Rhine, (a crucial period of the
war).
Fortunately, he landed, (via parachute), on the
right side
of the river. He continued missions in Europe.
LO
MOVIE
CLIP
MAX COLLETT
HI
Midget Sub.
Courtesy British Admiralty
Max and Flying
Officer T.S.F.
Kearins were both
credited
with destroying, between them, three
midget submarines
in the Scheldt Estuary February 1945.
Possibly the only ones to be detroyed by
Fighter Command.
Merville Airfield (B53)
France. Sept. 1944.
With
a little Agfa vest-pocket camera
he kept in his top pocket,
Max managed to gather a number of
'unofficial' shots - some of which
appear on this page.
The
'Waipawa Special'
Max 'in the office'.
Merville, France. 1944.
One
of Max's incredible shots - "Line
Astern".
Taken through his gunsight, during the
outward
journey from Merville, France, to bomb
and
'mess up' the Calais docks. Max was
flying as No.4.
This
photo appeared in the UK journal of the
Spitfire Society and created much
interest
with the editorial staff.
New
Years Day 1945.
The German airforce launched an attack with all
the aircraft they could muster for a
"boden platte" - a 'last fling' in
destroying as many aircraft as possible
on the occupied airfields around Europe.
A very sad Max
looking over the mess.
This
is all that was left of Max's Spitfire when the
airfield
(B65) Maldegem, Belgium, was straffed by six ME
109s.
Thirteen aircraft on the field were destroyed
that day.
