RAF engineer from Kent died in Red Arrows crash

  • Meridian
Corporal Bayliss was born in Dartford and studied at West Kent College Credit: RAF

The MOD has confirmed the death of Corporal Jonathan Bayliss of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (The Red Arrows).Corporal Bayliss was killed when the Hawk T1 aircraft he was flying in crashed at RAF Valley approximately 1330hrs on Tuesday 20 March 2018. A police investigation and a full service Inquiry into the crash has begun.

He was born in Dartford, Kent and grew up in Hartley. He attended Axton Chase School in Longfield and studied at West Kent College before going on to complete a HND in engineering management at the University of Greenwich.

Before joining the Royal Air Force in 2001, he worked at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit.

Prior to becoming a member of the Red Arrows team in January 2016, Corporal Bayliss’ Royal Air Force career involved working on squadrons at RAF Coltishall and RAF Coningsby as well as on overseas deployments.

As a mechanical engineer with the Red Arrows, he had supported successful tours to the Far East, including China, as well as the Middle East and mainland Europe.

In 2017 he was a leader of the Red Arrows’ dye team, helping to replenish the jets’ famous smoke systems wherever they landed.

For 2018, he had been selected to be one of the Circus team – the small group of highly-trained engineers who travel with the aircraft and provide technical support to the Red Arrows when the aircraft operate away from their home base.