RAF Macaws Team Members

As you were – I see you have already been on pprune.

I hope you have a good reunion.

Best Wishes baz

If no answers on here you could  try on pprune.org,there is a section on there called ‘Where are They Now” down towards the bottom of the homepage.

The forum is inhabited by many ex RAF aircrew and groundcrew.

rgds baz

oops wrong photo! here’s the one I meant

Hi all, new to this site and I knw the thread is very old but trying to reach old Manby pilots from 66-70. My Dad was Ernie Banfield an instructor there and member of Macaws for a while. I’m in touch with just 3 ex-pilots and they suggested this site to try to find others. My Dad died last year nd due to Covid we have not yet had a farewell do. This is now arranged for May 22 and we’d like to let people know when the gathering is. I’m hoping spomeone of here may know details to reach epople like Keith Walters, John Aldington, Ricky Stalker etc. Effectively any pilots on staff 66-70. Any help welcomed. Despite many yer flying all sorts of aricraft his screensaver was always one of the shots of a JP in a steep dive as it reminded him of his days in the Macaws- attached

I too would be interested in anything Argosy related. My late father was a pilot on Argosies, 267 Sqn, 242 OCU, 115 Sqn and finally the ill fated 6FTS project!

Inky. Who was your uncle? I have access to a lot of Argosy stuff which may be of interest but not if he is involved with some of the Argosy organisations.
If he hasn’t been too active in keeping in touch then they will be of interest.

Mally.

John Aldington was not replaced following his serious accident and to fulfill its display commitment, the team decided to continue with three aircraft (Mick Marriott becoming No.2) and a modified display sequence, beginning on 19 June with a show at Manby for the Royal College of Defence Studies.

John Aldington had to be substituted as he broke a leg going up the starboard side of a jeep, the wing was wet and he slipped and rolled down the wing to the ground this was before they had begun working up as a team.

Mick Marriot was a local man from Alford, Pete Diggance was from Kent and was a surly sort, Frank Redmond and Bill Hillman along with Mike Fox were a good bunch.

The replacement for John Aldington was someone from the previous year but I can’t remember who he was. I remember JA and his E Type Jag a real bird puller he reckoned.

John Wingfield The Macaws

Just come across this site with mention of the Macaws and photos from the early 70’s. The red Lotus in one of the shots, emblazoned with a Macaw transfer was my company car. I flew with John Wingfield as a guest and the team decorated my car. They also got a rollocking from the CO when he saw the car racing along the perimeter track! The team at that time included Brian Hoskins who went on to the Red Arrows. Still got the publicity brochure if anybody wants to see it.

Argosy Website

Ross – very interesting to see your pics of an Argosy stuck in Le Havre. ‘Hope you don’t mind, but I have stolen them for the Argosy website www.argosy.org.uk and also added your dad on the members’ list (I’m blessed with running the site, sadly in an amateur way . .). I was a nav on Argosies 62-66. Regards, David Broughon

Thanks Mally,

Not sure about the Reds story. I think these photos might make you chuckle… they were taken in Le Harve on 6th May 1967, I believe my dad might have been the one responsible for ‘parking’ on the grass!

Thanks for remembering him,

Ross

Some new Macaws Pics and bits….

Ross, I’ve sent you a PM. I see your Dad was in the team during 1968-70.
I took this shot of him with the team arriving at RAF Colerne on 6th July 1968

That picture in the Macaws ’73 brochure taken over the Olympic stadium in Munich popped up in a separate thread here some time ago…

This must have been after your Dad’s time with the Macaws but I thought I would add them anyway.

At this time I was a member of the 7th Army Parachute Team and we performed at the same air shows.

Brilliant photos! This has become my favourite forum thread!

Some new Macaws Pics and bits….

(Pictured: Jim Adams, Rick stalker, John Wingfield, Bill Strubsole)

I remember my mum saying that my dad was one of the first to go from transport aircraft to fighter aircraft, not sure how true that is though.

Trying to do some more digging into my dads Hunter days and what squadron he was in etc…

What an interesting thread and the connections made between forumites.:)- I remember the Macaws well but never knew they had such a big lad in the team. Argosies, Beverlies and then the Hunter! That was some move…..

Ross. I have just received a very interesting email from a colleague of your late father, who is now in Thailand.
Will you PM me your email address so that I can forward it on to you. Thanks.

Mally.

Would that be Mike Fox by any chance? If not, I am in touch with him and he is in the Far East somewhere.

At least two of the Macaw’s original JP’s cockpits survive. I think one was at Cockpit Fest this year and the other resides near Chester..

I believe that Steve Austin’s T4, XP558 was last shown at the 2009 Cockpit-Fest event; there are some pictures here http://www.cockpitfest.co.uk/ follow the previous event link and the picture is on page 2. 🙂

Hi Ross

We have a couple of ex Manby JP’s at Metheringham, XS186, which is now back to ground running (soon to be taxiable) condition, and XS177, which was a Macaws ship in the early 70’s, so your father may well have flown this aircraft ?
XS186 was never a Macaws aircraft but during her painstaking rebuild to near stock condition we have actively sought ex pilots, and have made contact with several over recent years.
You will have a pm with details.

Paul

All,

I have a lot more bits and bobs I need to scan in anyway so will try and get them on soon.

my dad went on to fly and instruct on Hunters, so if you know any ex Hunter Pilots please pass on this thread. He left the RAF in the 1970s and went to civil, ended up flying for Air Europe.

All the best

Ross