Jackie Smith: The First Woman to Join the British Army’s Red Devils Artwork

The 20 Minute Call - A Skydiving Podcast

The 20 Minute Call Podcast is a podcast about the dreamers, boundary pushers, rebels and champions of the skydiving industry. Each episode is a narrative journey highlighted by the highs, lows, and luck that the skydiving industry delivers told by the most influential people within the sport.

If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a skydiver, opening a DZ or becoming the next world champion, check out The 20 Minute Call hosted by James La Barrie

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The 20 Minute Call - A Skydiving Podcast

Jackie Smith: The First Woman to Join the British Army’s Red Devils

March 30, 2026 • James La Barrie • Season 3 • Episode 84

0:00 | 1:23:24

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Jackie Smith is one of the most decorated and pioneering figures in the history of competitive skydiving. She was the first woman to earn the Red Beret of the British Army's Red Devils parachute display team, the first female member of any full-time military parachute team in the world, joining the ranks in February 1972.

A multi-time British National Champion in both style and accuracy and 8-way formation skydiving, Jackie's defining competitive achievement came at the 1978 World Parachuting Championships in Yugoslavia, where she became the first competitor in history, male or female, to land 10 consecutive dead centers under competition conditions, claiming gold in the women's accuracy event while simultaneously outscoring every competitor in both the men's and women's divisions.

Other career highlights include a BASE jump from El Capitan in 1980, performing in the opening ceremony of the 1986 Commonwealth Games watched by 102 million people, and amassing nearly 6,000 jumps from 58 different aircraft types.

Her accolades include Honorary membership of the US Army Golden Knights, the Royal Aero Club Gold Medal, the Jim Crocker Trophy, and induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2013.

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