An unacceptable culture of sexism, harassment and bullying was allowed to flourish at the RAF’s Red Arrows display team, the head of the air force has acknowledged at the conclusion of two critical investigations into conduct at the elite unit.
Female personnel were subjected to unwanted contact, invitations to have sex and sent unsolicited out-of-work messages, one report said, while there was a culture of male sexual entitlement with women “being viewed as ‘property’”.
Women serving in the Red Arrows banded together in social situations with “‘shark watch’ in operation in their cohort”, while many were reluctant to complain and even feared detrimental treatment if male advances were rejected.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, the chief of the air staff, said the two reports showed that “behaviour that would be classed as unacceptable was widespread and normalised on the squadron” – and that the Red Arrows management and culture had been overhauled in response to the investigations made public on Wednesday.
Two male pilots were fired late last year for sexual misconduct and bullying, while it emerged on Wednesday that a further nine Red Arrows personnel had been subject to lesser disciplinary action as a result of the investigation.
Another flight lieutenant from RAF Scampton, where the Red Arrows were based, was found guilty of battery at a court martial in January this year and fined £1,437 and reprimanded. However, that case did not form part of the investigation.
Knighton said inquiries into unacceptable behaviour at the Red Arrows began in December 2021 after three women directly approached his predecessor Sir Mike Wigston with “serious allegations about the culture and behaviour”.
An initial report was followed up with a second inquiry into failures of command. The RAF released heavily redacted versions of both reports on Wednesday afternoon, in an attempt to restore confidence in the squadron and across the military.
“Тhere is absolutely no question that there were plenty of examples of unacceptable behaviour at the Red Arrows,” Knighton said. “In fact, the report said that these were widespread and normalised and, to be honest, when I read it, I was appalled at what I read.”
The military chief offered “unreserved apologies” to all affected and said he would be willing to meet privately with the three women who made the original complaint. Their identities remain confidential and one of the three has since left the air force.
The high profile of the Red Arrows, including “regular exposure to VIPs, celebrities and an admiring public” contributed to a view among some personnel that they were special and that “normal behaviours and rules do not apply to them”, according to the second report into command and leadership failings.
Unacceptable sexual behaviour appeared to be more prevalent in the Red Arrows than in “other similar-sized units” as a result, the document continued, contributing to an intense environment at a squadron that is typically 120-strong. Of those, about 10% are women.
There was a “high propensity” for Red Arrows personnel to engage in extramarital relationships, the first report said, several of which “were visible” across the squadron, which in turn undermined the unit’s rank structure and authority.
Alcohol consumption was routinely a triggering factor for unacceptable sexual behaviours, and “almost all” incidents complained of took place at or after a social event where drinking had taken place. Victims often excused harassment or other bad behaviour because alcohol had been involved.
Two incidents of genital exposure were also recorded by the inquiry team, although there was a “lack of offence” reported in both cases, suggesting that “the exposure of genitals and nakedness is normalised in a military environment”.
Concerns were also raised about “bystander behaviour” – where onlookers or third parties do not call out or complain about harassment – which was described as prevalent among the Red Arrows.
Victims often said they did not want to “ruin someone’s career” over an incident, suggesting a misplaced or exaggerated loyalty to the elite unit over the individual.
Both reports recommended a string of actions, including disciplinary and administrative action for nine members of the Red Arrows, and a revised package of training aimed at stamping out harassment and increasing the reporting of unacceptable behaviours.
“There’s good evidence that the culture on the Red Arrows now is much better than it was. I’m confident also in the current squadron’s leadership, but I am absolutely not complacent. This will need to be closely monitored,” Knighton said.
