Rhine Army Parachute Association Display Team Sennelager West Germany, September 1977.

The following information kindly supplied by Lt Col(rtd) Paddy O' Connell.

The picture was taken at Sennelager on 7 July 1977 just before the Queen's Review of BAOR. The RAPA display team for that day included a number of Airborne men. Sadly, some of those in the picture have passed on.

From memory: standing, from left to right: BSM Yorky Challinor (7 Para RHA), Sgt Jack Fowler (Para Regt and Red Devils), SSgt Derek Thorne (APTC previously Para Regt), Major Tom Oxley (Commandant JSPC Sennelager and an old Airborne REME man), Sgt Major 'Mac' MacQueen (Chief Instructor JSPC Sennelager and 7 Para RHA), Cpl Alex ??????? (Para Regt and Red Devils),LCpl Yorky ??????? (RAOC), Cpl ????????? (REME Ex Para Regt and Red Devils), FSgt Ken Mapplebeck (RAF PJI), L/cpl Phil Mercer (R Signals), Cpl Jim Coffee (3 PARA and Red Devils). Kneeling: ???????????? (RTR), ???????????? (Airborne REME), Bdr ??????????? (7 Para RHA), Capt Paddy O'Connell (Airborne RAOC (16 Para OFP, 1 Para Log Regt, HQ 16 Para Bde, Para Sqn RAC and 44 Para OFP)).

I regret I only have one of the aircrew names that is Lt Mark Salter RN (standing front right).

The 'demo' included two RAF Wessex helicopters from RAF Gutersloh. The 16 man team carried out 35 rehearsal jumps most of which were from 12,000 ft and comprised a relative work formation that depicted, in red white and blue smoke the image E II. Sadly, a 5,000 ft cloudbase on the day resulted in an abbreviated demo which was, nevertheless, appreciated by Her Majesty and the vast crowds.