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RAF Jet Provost aerobatic teams
We had great responses to the threads on the RAF Jet Provost teams, "The Macaws", the "Swords" and the Fleet Air Arm's "Simon's Sircus" aerobatic teams, which brought forward former pilots from these teams. Therefore, I wonder if there are any team members out there from any of the other RAF Jet Provost aerobatic teams from the 1960s- No.1 FTS "Gin Four" ,"Linton GIN" "The Blades"; No.2 FTS "The Vipers" ; CFS "Red Pelicans" or the "Cranwell Poachers" that would care to share their memorabilia and experiences? Also does anyone know if 7 FTS at Church Fenton had a Jet Provost aerobatic team in the 1960s?
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From a bit of paper found in amongst some old (non-JP) pics t'other day. No idea who wrote it and this is all it says:
RAF JP Aerobatic Teams Sparrows Redskins Red Pelicans Black Jacks Macaws Magistrates Vipers Linton Gin Blades Gemini Pair Poachers Swords I know Poachers were RAFC Cranwell, Macaws is Manby College of Air Warfare and Red Pelicans were CFS. Maybe someone can fill in the blanks? |
Sparrows = CFS JP Mk.1s 1958
Redskins = CFS JP Mk.1 duo 1959 Red Pelicans = CFS JP.Mk.3/4/5 1960-73 Black Jacks = no idea! Macaws = CAW JP T4s 1968-73 Magistrates = CAW JP T4s 1965-67 Vipers = 2 FTS JPT4s 1965-69 Linton Gin = 1 FTS JPT4s 1968-69 (known as Gin Four 1965-67) Blades = 1 FTS JPT5s 1973 Gemini Pair = 3 FTS JPT5s 1971-74? Poachers = RAFC JPT4s then '5s 1965?-76 (last JP team) Swords = 3 FTS JPT5s 1974 The dates are off the top of my head, with the 'start' dates being a grey area. Now all we want are any pilots from these teams to just say 'hi'! |
If the Red Pelicans finished in 1973, probably the last team was:
Sqn Ldr I.C. Gibbs, Capt R.F. Lord USAF, Flt Lt W.B. Byron RAAF and Lt J.M. Edwards RN (sadly no longer with us). I only know because I still treasure one of their brochures to remember my one and only JP flight with Marcus Edwards in October 73. |
From memory 7 FTS at Church Fenton didn't have an aero team. I was there 1965-66.
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I was a member of the "Cranwell Poachers" Groundcrew during the last two seasons 1975-76. The team was as below.
1975 Team Team Leader - Sqn Ldr Peter Curtin No 2 - Flt Lt Eddie Danks No 3 - Flt Lt Martin Stoner No 4 - Flt Lt Dave Webley Team Manager - Flt Lt David Norris 1976 Team Team Leader - Sqn Ldr Peter Curtin No 2 - Flt Lt Philip Barham No 3 - Flt Lt Martin Stoner No 4 - Flt Lt Dave Webley Team Manager - Fg Off Ken Claxton I usually flew with Dave Webley or Martin Stoner My name is George Dobie if any of the team see this and wonder who wrote it. |
My first RAF posting, 1961, was Acklington where the Piston Provosts were being replaced by JPs. Just after I'd left, late '62 I think, there was one disastrous day when a formation of JPs, either 4 or 6, followed the leader into a loop - but far too low. They all went in - not far from the control tower. But have I got this right? I can find nothing on the web, not even from the brilliant site on RAF Acklington -
http://www.raf-acklington.co.uk/inde...gton/index.htm |
The last Red Pelicans brochure I have is 1970. Is there any chance of getting scans of any brochures after that?
Many thanks |
JP Teams - The Magic Years
I was No 2 in the Red Pelicans in 1968 and Leader in 1969 flying JP4s.
In 1971, 72 and 73 I was Leader of the Cranwell Poachers I do have all the team brochures of those years and a collection of relevant memorabilia. Incidently we organised the inaugural annual gathering of the teams comprising the Red Arrows, Poachers, Red Pelicans, Blades, Macaws, Gemini and Blue Chips at Cranwell in early September 1971; quite a line up on the 'water-front'. |
That would make you John Robinson? Welcome aboard and a very great pleasure to hear from you. If you do not have spare brochures from the Cranwell Poachers in '71 & '72, I would greatly appreciate scans of these. Will PM you about this and other JP info.
Thanks for making contact. |
The only connection I had with the Poachers was helping to build the 'Poachers' scruffs' bar behind the College Hall main bar in 1973/4 - although our engineer students were chiefly responsible. The Commandant drank the first pint on opening night - and the PMC (a Trenchard instructor) thought it was outstanding!
The walls were painted 'Poachers Blue' - and many framed aerobatic team photos were proudly displayed upon them. It was a wonderfully atmospheric little bar; sadly, when RAFC Cranwell was dumbed down to comprehensive status with the closure of that very inferior secondary modern school in Bedfordshire, the bar was closed :mad: And College Hall was never the same again..........:( |
JP Teams-The Magic Years.
Message to Prune Probationer,Cranwell.
Hello, did you ever fly JP4 XSI86 OR 177. If you did,do you have any photographs of those a/c? XS186 is currently under restoration at Metheringham with 177 being used as a source for parts.We would love to find more photos of these a/c when they were in service use. Thanks.:ok: |
Hmm, hijacking my thread, eh Paul? Good luck!
Adrian |
JP aerobatic teams
Sorry about that Amos. This isn't Paul but one of his restoration crew.:O :ok:
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Gemini Pair Leeming 1971.
Remember Flg.Off. "Dusty" Miller was the number two when I was training with 3 FTS. Can't remember the leaders name but do recall he went on to fly with the Rothman's team. Cheers,
D. |
Googling reveals this - http://www.jetprovostheaven.com/jpteams/
But there's no mention of a Flt Lt Ron Pattinson who was certainly a member of the Geminini Pair at some point. |
Poachers 1970
Just read your comments,
I was groundcrew on the Poachers during the early 1970 season and flew with No 4 (I think Flt Lt Hill) great memories cut short by my long awaited fitters coarse. Would love to contact Flt Lt Hill, Flt Lt Baker and any members of the team and replace lost photograph of groundcrew for that year Kind Regards Eric Humphreys |
I flew as box in the CFS team in 1961. Frank Brambley was leader. We were not painted red, and were not called "Red Pelicans" That PR stuff came later. Nevertheless , the 1960 and 1961 teams were recognised as "RAF" teams. We did The Paris Air Show, although I screwed up on the pairs bit, and Farnborough plus national and international air days.
The 1960 team, if memory serves, flew to Ghana for their Independence ceremony. Dick W |
Just come across a programme from the 1972 Tollerton Air Rally/Air Race meeting.... The Macaws displayed.
PM if you'd like a Hi Res scanned copy |
(QUOTE)
I flew as box in the CFS team in 1961. Frank Brambley was leader. We were not painted red, and were not called "Red Pelicans" That PR stuff came later. Nevertheless , the 1960 and 1961 teams were recognised as "RAF" teams. We did The Paris Air Show, although I screwed up on the pairs bit, and Farnborough plus national and international air days. The 1960 team, if memory serves, flew to Ghana for their Independence ceremony. Dick W (UNQUOTE) Hi Dick, You don't mention the aircraft type or the team name, but I am guessing you flew a team of Vampire T.11s called "Pelican Red" (from your callsign)- right? Adrian |
Nope. We were just called "The CFS Aerobatic Team" or, mostly "you lot". We flew JP3s in standard CFS livery, but we did have a smoke kit fitted in place of the right hand bang seat. We had minimal backup, and even had students allocated on the course at Rissie who we were supposed to teach on our days off. At Paris we were based at Creil/Senlis with the Lightning team, who stole all the transport leaving us to hire local jalopies.
Memory fades, but I think the next season the team went to 5, and got the red all-over paint sceme and the name "Red Pelicans" Dick W |
As I am working on a book on the Jet Provost, I thought I had all JP teams well documented. My records show that the first JP T.3s were delivered to CFS in June 1960 and they hastily formed an aerobatic team in time for Farnborough in September and were known as "The Pelicans" from then on, until the 1963 season for which they were repainted dayglo red and became the "Red Pelicans". Would greatly appreciate names of Leaders and team members for the 1960 and '61 seasons, as well as display schedules, should you have them?
Many thanks Adrian |
Red Pelicans 1964
If it helps, the team in 1964 was as follows:
Sqn Ldr Paul M Worthington (Team Manager) Flt Lt Terry E L Lloyd (Leader) 27 years old Flt Lt Brian A Nice (No 2) 32 years Flt Lt Bill A Langworthy (No 3) 29 years Flt Lt Dennis F Southern (No 4) 32 years Flt Lt H R (Bert) Lane (No 5) 41 years Flt Lt Eric C F Tilsley (No 6) 37 years Fg Off Bill Green (Team Engineering Officer) 25 years Info taken from the 1964 brochure. FZ |
Thanks very much FZ. I have also got the Red Pelicans brochures for 1963 and '64, as well as material on the 1962 team. It is the 1960-61 team details that elude me.:rolleyes:
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There were originally 5 pilots in the 1961 team, 4 plus one reserve. Frank Brambley was the leader - and might have led the 1960 team, memory fails me. Bruce MacDonald, Snowy McKee, McCann, the deputy leader, and me made up the rest. Snowy was a natural flyer, and flew most of the early sorties in the box but banged out on a routine flight and was injured, so we only had four for the rest of the season.
From my log book:14May, Bourges/Avord, 3Jun, Paris,17 Jun, Mildenhall,24Jun, Exeter and Bristol,6 July, Cottesmore, 10 July, Southampton (Flypast only), 15 July, Coventry, Sept 5,6,7,8,9,10 Farnborough, 11 Sept Press Day, Biggin Hill, 20/21 Oct, Cranwell. There were others, not marked as displays in my logbook, where I was commentating and Snowy was flying. Dick W |
Re 1 FTS Linton GIN
No.1 FTS at Linton-on-Ouse formed a Jet Provost aerobatic team in the mid-60s called "GIN four", which became "Linton GIN" by 1969. Does anyone have any more info on this team or know the names of the three pilots that made up the initials 'GIN'? I understand there was no alcoholic connection...or at least not on duty!
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The late Derek Smith used to fly in one of the JP teams - can anyone put me right on that? He suffered a mid-air collision during a display or practice and due to back injury he later found himself on helicopters, on the same course as myself.
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Linton GIN Photos
Hi Guys,
My father flew with "Linton GIN". I have a few photos, My Mum can probably remember the names of some/most of the pilots. I'll call her & ask. We also have dads log books, so can source quite a lot of info from them ( should anyone be interested ) My fathers name was Dave Waddington. I don't think he was with "GIN" from the beginning, but he moved onto the "Blades", which he lead until he left the Royal Air Force. Unfortunately my dad died over 20 years ago. He joined ( BEA & Then ) British Airways after leaving the RAF because he didn't want to stop flying. He died about 6hrs after landing at Manchester airport, so I suppose that's about as close as you can get without taking 120 passengers with you. Anyway here are a couple of GIN publicity Photo's that I scanned in. http://www.a-k-d.com/provost/GIN1.jpg http://www.a-k-d.com/provost/GIN2.jpg http://www.a-k-d.com/provost/YP-Blades-70.jpg All the Best Steve Waddington |
Steve,
Thanks very much for that touching contribution and for the scans of the "Linton Gin" team. I presume those were taken in 1969, obviously over York Minster. Much appreciated. Adrian |
Couple of pics taken at Lugano Switz 24 June 1973 should remember the guys names but sorry too long ago. Somehow Poachers rings a bell.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ey/Lugano1.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ey/Lugano2.jpg |
Ah, John Farley of HSA fame - how nice of you to contribute those shots of the Poachers in Switzerland. That would be Sqn. Ldr. John Robinson leading the team in '73, who was ex Red Pelicans.
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Come on now Adrian - all this talk of JP's and not so much as one photo from your collection *tuts* - I'm still watching for some more Varsities too!;)
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Could that have been the same Dave Waddington who sent me solo in the JP4 at Acklington in 1967?
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