Freeborn's biography " A Tiger's Tale " contains three pages covering this event. He is very clear that Malan covered his own back in giving evidence at the court martial. Malan, supposedly gave a warning before the attack on the Hurricanes of 56 Sqn.. Neither Freeborn, Byrne nor Flinders heard it. Hawkin's in Malan's section said that he did - but that was because he had been told to say so.
Freeborn felt betrayed by the fact that Malan had appeared for the prosecution and not the defence. Sailor's one major failing was that he was not prepared to be blamed for anything - ever.