Contrailjj – Here is a text from a website that I came across. Sorry I don’t have any photo’s lying around as it was a long time ago and as we used to fly with the aircraft to each show cameras kind of got in the way of the “beer chits” for the post airshow functions! During my time on the team 75 – 76, I spent virtually every weekend during the summer at airshows servicing my aircraft. The “Flying Circus” (or more aptly referred to as “alcoholics on tour”) consisted of 5 aircraft (JP5A), 4 for the display and 1 spare. Obviously, there were 5 pilots and 5 groundcrew. The spare pilot gave the commentary. During my time we gave shows throughout the UK, France, Germany and the Channel Islands. I flew with Flt Lt Martin (Stumpy) Stoner and Flt Lt Dave Webley, both ex Lightning pilots who served together at RAF Gutersloh in Germany. When flying in transit to airshows the journey was never boring as they were both keen to keep up their “dog fighting” skills, thankfully I had a strong stomach!
On leaving Cranwell Martin Stoner joined the “Red Arrows” I believe he ended his time as a Wg Cmdr flying Tornado’s. The team disbanded after the 76 season due to defence cuts. Anyway, here’s the text and a couple of photos!
The RAFC Cranwell Poachers Aerobatic Team
1965, 1968-1970 seasons
The last Jet Provost team was from the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell.
Their first JP team, consisting of four T.4 aircraft, first flew in the 1965 season as a successor to their DH Vampire team, and the team made a return to the circuit three years later for the 1968 season. The team was given the name “Cranwell Poachers”, originally from a folk song titled “The Lincolnshire Poacher.”
By 1969 had adopted its own markings over the now standard red, white and grey scheme. The team flew at displays until the end of the 1970 when the Unit was received its batch of T.5 Jet Provosts.
1971-1976 seasons
In 1971, the team dropped Cranwell from their name, and were known simply as “The Poachers” The team re-equipped with the Jet Provost T Mk 5 and continued with four-aircraft displays for the next five years.
The Poachers proved to be the last Jet Provost team, and survived until the end of the 1976 airshow season. At the same the MoD ordered the termination of all JP teams as an economy measure.
Another era in Royal Air Force aerobatic team history had come to an end.
Sign In
