John Healey has ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Jeffrey Epstein used Royal Air Force (RAF) bases to traffic women and girls into the UK.
The defence secretary has told officials to search more than two decades of Ministry of Defence (MoD) records and give police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier.
It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown wrote to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases, during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and former UK ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson, were arrested and released on bail earlier this month over alleged links with the convicted sex offender.
A MoD spokesperson said: “The defence secretary has ordered a review of all records that the department may hold relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases to ensure that any information which relates to Epstein's crimes is uncovered and provided to the relevant authorities.
“The MoD will support any civilian police investigations.
“Our thoughts are with all the victims of Epstein's vile crimes.”
It is reportedly not unusual for spare capacity at RAF airfields to be used for private jets, with private customers charged fees which cover all costs.
Such use is only approved when it does not interfere with the security or smooth running of the airfield.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday dodged calls for a public inquiry into Epstein and his possible use of British airports, saying any police investigations should take their course first.
