About Us
Meet the team
Major Paul Blair DSO
Team role: Officer Commanding
Paul joined 4 PARA, the Parachute Regiment’s Territorial battalion, whilst at university in London. On completion of a business degree he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and was commissioned into The Parachute Regiment in 1996. He has since served in all three regular Battalions and seen active service in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for commanding C Company, 3 PARA, in Afghanistan in 2006. Paul joined the team in 2008 and has over 1000 skydives, he has represented the team in formation skydiving were he has won gold medals in this discipline. Paul is a tandem instructor and a seasoned display jumper on a high performance Sabre canopy. In his spare time Paul is a keen motorcyclist, skier and snowboarder.
Contact Paul at oc@reddevilsonline.com
Sergeant Michael Blanchard
Team role: Jumpmaster/ Deputy Team Leader
Michael ‘Billy’ Blanchard started basic training in January 1990, and after passing out from Depot Para he was posted to C Company, 3 PARA. In 1992 he completed the Milan Anti Tank Weapon System course and moved to Support Company. Billy has served on operations in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Billy joined the Red Devils in January 2001 and is a qualified category system, tandem and accelerated free fall (AFF) instructor. He has over 2500 parachute descents to his name. Billy is one of the team jumpmasters and the most experienced display parachutist.
Contact Billy at jm1@reddevilsonline.com
Sergeant Mark Scobie
Team role: Cameraman
Mark joined the Parachute Regiment in 1991 and was posted to the 1 PARA. Mark has been on operations in Northern Ireland and Iraq. Mark has also been on overseas exercises to the USA and South Africa.
Mark first joined the team in 1996 and since then he has been a canopy formation specialist, team leader and now cameraman. In between postings on the team Mark has been a parachute instructor in Germany where he has over taught over 5000 students to skydive . Mark is also an accelerated freefall instructor.
Contact Mark at cameraroom@reddevilsonline.com
Corporal Mike French
Team role: Cameraman
From Cumbria, Mike "Frenchy" French has continued his proud family tradition of serving in the Parachute Regiment. Having completed several tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq & Afghanistan with 3 Para, mike joined the Red Devils in 2010, quickly achieving the milestone of 200 jumps, which is required to be a display parachutist. This combined with his vast experience as a medic on operations, makes Mike a solid team member.
His other hobbies include surfing and diving.
Contact Mike at cameraroom@reddevilsonline.com
Corporal Barry Loftus
Team Role: Contracts Co-ordinator
Cpl Barry 'Baz' Loftus joined the Parachute Regiment in 1998 and was posted to the 3 PARA. During his career he has served on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, been on overseas exercises to the UAE, Germany, France and South Africa and completed two years at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick teaching Parachute Regiment recruits. Baz joined the Red Devils in 2011 and deployed immediately to Dubai with the team on our annual pre season training exercise. As well as getting to grips with his office job Baz is working hard to reach the 200 jump minimum he needs to get cleared to take part in displays.
Contact Baz at contracts@reddevilsonline.com
Corporal Wayne Shorthouse
Team role: Logistics
Bio to follow
Lance Corporal Ian Cain
Team role: Tandem Co-ordinator
Contact Ian at tandems@reddevilsonline.com
Lance Corporal Nathan Connolly
Team role: Aircraft Co-ordinator
After joining 1 PARA and serving in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland and Iraq with the Mortars Platoon, Nathan joined the Red Devils in 2004. He has over 1500 skydives, many of which are tandems. Nathan is also one of our two stack pilots for canopy formations on public displays. He is a tandem instructor and has won gold medals in canopy formations competitions.
Contact Nathan at aircraft@reddevilsonline.com
Lance Corporal Lee Crudgington
Team Role: Media Projects
Lee was born in Essex and joined the Parachute Regiment in 2005. Posted to 2 PARA he has served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as training exercises in the USA, Germany and Kenya. Lee joined the Red Devils in 2011 and utilising his strong IT skills was soon put to work in the camera room editing videos and working on media projects. Not far off his 200th jump Lee will soon be qualified to take part in displays and aims to become one of the team's cameramen. When he's not jumping Lee enjoys Moto X, DJ ing and keeping fit.
Lance Corporal Dominic Hines
Team role: Chief Rigger
Dom joined 3 PARA January 1995 and has since served on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and has also taken part on overseas exercises in Canada, Norway, Jamaica and Belize. Dom served in the Patrols Platoon.
He joined the team in 2003 and has over 1000 skydives to his credit. Dom is a display jumper and a formation skydiving coach. He is also a fully qualified parachute rigger, which is a highly skilled and important job, to maintain the team’s kit and equipment.
Dom is returning to 3 PARA for an operational tour, we wish him all the best and a speedy return to the team.
Contact Dom at rigging@reddevilsonline.com
Lance Corporal Danny Kelly
Team role: Public Relations
From Hull, Danny joined the Army in 2001. After passing Parachute Regiment training he was posted to 3 PARA. Whilst serving in 3 PARA Danny went on operations in N. Ireland and Afghanistan, and deployed on exercises in Kenya, USA and the Oman.
Danny joined the team in 2007. He has over 1000 skydives and is a tandem instructor. He also is one of the team’s two stack pilots for canopy formations on displays.
His hobbies include skiing, running and going to the gym.
Contact danny on pr@reddevilsonline.com
Lance Corporal Chris Sharman
Team role: Team Rigger
Born in Plymouth, Chris has served with 2 Para on several operational tours, including Macedonia, two tours of Afghanistan, Northern Ireland & two tours of Iraq. During his time in 2 Para, Chris took part in numerous overseas training exercises. He took part in a climb to Mount Blanc in France, as well as arduous military exercises in Belize and Kenya.
Chris' dilligent nature makes him well suited to the role of Team Rigger, maintaining the teams parachute equipment and packing our reserve parachutes, a job he is quick to remind us of when the banter starts to fly!
Outside of the team, Chris enjoys football, motorcycling and all watersports.
Contact Chris at rigging@reddevilsonline.com
Lance Corporal John Woods
Team role: Display Co-ordinator
John "Woody" Woods joined the Army in 2001, where he was posted to the 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment. John served on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, and also served on overseas exercises in the Oman and the USA.
John joined the team in 2008 and has over 600 skydives. He is one of the team’s formation skydivers, where he has won numerous gold medals for his talent in 4 way competitions.
John's hobbies include boxing, running and spending time with his daughter, Lily.
Contact John at displays@reddevilsonline.com