About the Red Devils
About the Team
The Red Devils are an elite unit of the British Army Parachute Regiment. The 15 members are highly-skilled paratroopers chosen through a rigorous selection process. Competition for a place on the team is fierce, and it’s an honour to be selected.
The team remain serving members of the Parachute Regiment and can be recalled to duty at any time. As the Red Devils’ motto goes, we’re always Ready For Anything.
During the winter, team members complete mandatory military training to maintain our skill set.
A brief history of the Red Devils
The Red Devils began in 1964 to boost public engagement and recruitment for the British Army.
After training with the US Armed Forces’ parachute display team, the Golden Knights, the first Red Devils team was formed.
We became the official parachute display team of the British Army in 1979.
Earning our name
‘Red Devils’ was first coined in 1942 after the Parachute Regiment was deployed to North Africa during World War II. The red African sand clung to the parachutes after landing, creating the illusion of a red tail, which caused German troops to dub British paratroopers ‘the red devils’.
When the display team was first formed, we were called ‘the Parachute Regiment Free Fall Display Team’. We were later given the Regiment’s nickname as our own–theRed Devils.
Meet the team
Get to know the current members of the Red Devils team
CAPT STEVE CHILD
Officer Commanding
Favourite dropzone: Port a Scuda, Sardinia
Captain Steve Child was born in Staffordshire. He joined the Army in 1991 and has served most of his career with the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. He reached the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major in 2013 and was promoted to Captain in 2015. During his career, he has conducted several operational tours including Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. Steve has also trained on several overseas exercises including America, Belize, Italy, Jordan, Oman and Poland.
Jumps:
350+
Interesting fact:
Steve is an avid Manchester United supporter also nicknamed the Red Devils. In his spare time he coaches football to under 9s and dedicates time to his wife and two children who live in South Wales.
SGT NATHAN FISHER
Team Sergeant
Favourite dropzone: Skydive Netheravon, Wiltshire, UK
Sgt Nathan Fisher was born in Leicester. He joined the Army in 2006 and went on to spend most of his career with the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. During his time in battalion, he conducted several operational tours and short-term training teams across the world. He is also one of the team’s display jumpers with aspirations to join the media team.
His favourite skydiving disciplines are freefly and angle tracking.
Jumps:
1,000+
Interesting fact:
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and annoying his dog.
CPL WAYNE SHORTHOUSE
Team Leader
Favourite dropzone: Palm Dropzone, Dubai
Cpl Wayne ‘Shorty’ Shorthouse, from Plymouth, joined the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 2001. During his career, he has been deployed twice to Northern Ireland, twice to Iraq and completed three tours of Afghanistan. He has been employed as a Liaison Officer to Estonian forces in Afghanistan and conducted exercises overseas in Oman, Italy and Africa.
Jumps:
4,000+
Interesting fact:
Wayne has a strict gym routine and enjoys weight training. His other hobbies are surfing, photography and learning the guitar. He dedicates any spare time he has to his wife and daughter.
CPL MIKE FRENCH
JM & Training Coordinator
Favourite dropzone: Palm Dropzone, Dubai
Cpl Mike French, or ‘Frenchy’, is originally from the Lake District. He joined the Army in 1998 aged 16 and spent most of his career in the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment before joining the Red Devils. He has conducted four operational deployments in Northern Ireland, one in Kosovo, two tours of Iraq and two of Afghanistan.
Mike is dedicated to carrying out tandems and engaging with members of the public.
Jumps:
5,000+
Interesting fact:
His spare time is spent with his family.
CPL STEPHEN HANDLEY
Team Cameraman
Favourite dropzone: Skydive Arizona, AZ, USA
Cpl Stephen Handley is from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. He joined 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 2006, and later become Section Commander within his company. Operational deployments have taken him to Afghanistan twice, and in 2013, he was promoted to Corporal. During his career, he has been deployed on overseas exercises to various locations, including Uganda, Kenya, Brunei, France, Belize and Canada.
Stephen’s favourite skydiving disciplines are tracking and flying the big flags. Other hobbies include base jumping, wind tunnel flying, shooting and spending time with family.
Jumps:
2,500+
Interesting fact:
He has also competed in the world’s longest kayak race (444 miles) in Canada and come in second place.
CPL HENRY MOLE
Training & Tandem Coordinator
Favourite dropzone: Skydive DeLand, FL, USA
Cpl Henry ‘Moley’ Mole is from Devon. He joined the British Army in 2006 and passed out from the Army Foundation College into 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 2007. During his career, he has completed four operational tours, and served as a section commander in the Machine Gun Platoon. Overseas exercises have taken him to Oman, Kenya and the USA.
Jumps:
2,000+
Interesting fact:
Henry enjoys canopy relative work, freeflying and tracking. In his spare time, he enjoys going to the gym, and spending time with friends and family, including his miniature goldendoodle. He is also an amateur wakeboarder.
CPL RICHARD KINGSTON
Tandem Coordinator
Favourite dropzone: Boca Cica, Key West, FL, USA
Cpl Richard Kingston, known as ‘Kingy’, was born in Wolverhampton. He joined the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 as a rifleman. He later returned for another operational tour of Afghanistan in 2010 as a mortarman. He has conducted several exercises in Kenya, The Falklands, Cyprus, Oman, Germany and the USA. In 2017, Richard was selected to be one of the first APJIs (Army Parachute Jump Instructors), posting to RAF Brize Norton to train low-level parachutists for 16 Brigade.
Richard joined the Red Devils in 2019 and hopes to join the CRW team.
Jumps:
800+
Interesting fact:
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters. He also keeps fit by going gym and weight training.
LCPL OLLIE GOSS
Team Cameraman
Favourite dropzone: Skydive Sebastian, FL, USA
LCpl Ollie Goss is from Northamptonshire. He joined the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 2013 after four years of serving in the Army. He has since served as a rifleman and 2IC in 3 PARA, C Company. During his career, he has been deployed to Afghanistan, Cyprus, Germany, America and Africa.
Jumps:
2,000+
Qualifications:
Wingsuit Coach, Tandem Instructor, Advanced Packer.
Interesting fact:
When skydiving, Ollie enjoys wingsuiting. In his spare time, he likes to keep fit and spend time with his family.
LCPL CAMERON CLARK
Team Rigger
Favourite dropzone: Skydive Spaceland San Marcos, TX, USA
LCpl Cameron Clark, known by the team as Cam, was born and raised in Hertfordshire. He joined the Parachute Regiment in 2012, and initially served with the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment as a rifleman. During his career, he has conducted exercises in America, Kenya, the Falkland Islands and Germany. He was promoted to LCpl in 2018.
Jumps:
2,200+
Interesting fact:
In 2015, he was part of the 3 PARA Army Champions boxing team.
LCPL DANNY WATSON
Social Media Coordinator
Favourite dropzone: Skydive Elsinore, CA, USA
LCpl Danny Watson is from Colchester, Essex. He joined the Army in 2013 and after completing his basic training, he was posted to 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment. During his career, he has been on many overseas exercises, including America, Kenya, Croatia, Germany and France. In 2019, Danny was posted to the Joint Service Parachute Wing in Netheravon to start his Army skydiving career. While there, he achieved his first instructor rating and accumulated 320 jumps.
Jumps:
600+
Interesting fact:
He enjoys tracking and is currently working towards his Category System Instructor rating and achieving his Wingsuit 1 qualification. In his spare time, he goes to the gym regularly and enjoys keeping fit.
LCPL LOUIS CUDDY
Team Quartermaster & Sponsorship Coordinator
Favourite dropzone: Black Knights, Lancaster, UK
LCpl Louis Cuddy joined the Army in 2017. After passing basic training, he joined 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment. Whilst serving in B Company, he was deployed on multiple overseas exercises before being promoted in 2019. He has since been deployed in Afghanistan, and recently assisted with the evacuation of British nationals and eligible Afghans in 2021.
When skydiving, Louis’ favourite discipline is canopy relative work – he hopes to join the CRW team in the future. His local dropzone is Black Knights, where he has completed most of his jumps to date.
Jumps:
800+
Interesting fact:
In his spare time, he has been part of big way formation skydiving events and is working on progressing his freeflying to the same standard.
LCPL ADAM BELLINGHAM
Social Media Coordinator
Favourite dropzone: Skydive Pepperell, MA, USA
LCpl Adam Bellingham is from south London. He joined the Army in 2017, and on completion of basic training, he served with 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment. Whilst serving, he has been deployed overseas to Kuwait, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Kenya, Jordan and the Falkland Islands.
Jumps:
200+
Interesting fact:
In his spare time, Adam likes to keep fit and go to the gym, as well as learning to play the guitar.
PTE MAX TORK
Team Rigger
Favourite dropzone: Skydive Elsinore, CA, USA
Pte Max Tork was born in Surrey. He joined the Army in 2017, and after completing training, was posted to 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment as a rifleman and second-in-command. Since then, he has been deployed overseas to Bosnia–Herzegovina, Kenya, the USA and Croatia.
Jumps:
500+
Interesting fact:
When skydiving, Max likes tracking and freeflying. In his spare time, he keeps himself fit and enjoys outdoor exercise such as running. He also repairs cars, and enjoys travelling and spending time with his family.
PTE OLLIE HOBBS
Team Rigger
Favourite dropzone: UK Parachuting, Beccles
Pte Ollie Hobbs is from Hertfordshire. He joined the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 2020 and went into A company. He was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and assisted in the evacuation of Kabul airport, Afghanistan in 2021.
Jumps:
200+
Interesting fact:
In his spare time, he likes to keep fit in the gym, as well as cycling and mountain climbing.
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