Red Arrows 'treated women as property'

THE head of the RAF has apologised to female members of the Red Arrows who were treated like "property".

- Michael Knowles

A scathing report revealed investigators were concerned "the squadron was not a safe environment for females and it was highly likely that females would be subject to unlawful harassment because of their sex." 

The world famous acrobatic display team performs striking routines in distinctive Hawk jets.

Unacceptable

A shocking section of yesterday's heavily redacted report revealed how female aviators were desperately trying to avoid the sexual harassment they were regularly enduring.

It said: "Female service personnel naturally supported each other and reported modifying their behaviours to reduce the risk of being subject of unacceptable behaviour.

"The modification included going to social situations as a group with 'shark watch' [to spot unwanted attention] in operation within their cohort; limiting the amount of alcohol consumed in order to be able to respond effectively...and to ensure their account would be believed and not dismissed due to consumption of alcohol." It said the female pilots and staff would also change what they wore to avoid unwanted attention.