Daredevils join Red Devils

4:37pm Sunday 12th October 2008

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Being thrown out a moving aeroplane at 13,000ft may seem like a booby prize to some.

But more than 14 competition winners were given the opportunity to experience a tandem skydive with the Red Devils parachute team on Wednesday.

Each winner had taken part in physical and mental exercises at the London Soldier Roadshow, an army careers exhibition which toured the city.

The winners were given the opportunity to experience just under a minute of freefall and a five minute descent towards the ground at the Red Devil headquarters at Netheravon Airbase in Wiltshire.

One winner was 39-year-old Andy Radford. Mr Radford is a route performance manager at East Croydon station and was one of the top scorers in the London Roadshow competition.

He said: “I have had now worries whatsoever about jumping. I am really geared up to do it.

“I have always wanted to do a jump I am just gutted I didn’t have enough time to raise any money for charity.

“My work were very understanding about taking the day off which is lucky because I was very keen on getting out here to do it.”

On his return back to the ground the married father of two, said: “That was the best thing I have ever done.

“I can see how these fellas do it every day. It is amazing. The most enjoyable thing I think I will ever do.”

Members of the Red Devils are serving soldiers with the Parachute Regiment.

They are hand picked from thousands of regular soldiers to form one of the finest parachute teams in the world.

The regiment was first formed in 1942.

Following the success of the German airborne operations during the invasion of Europe, the need for a flexible, strong and aggressive force was identified by Winston Churchill, who ordered that a corps of at least 5,000 airborne troops be formed.

• Anyone interested in a career in the Regular Army or the TA can phone 08457 300 111, visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk/london or Text ARMY to 61110.