A WOMAN has claimed she woke up with a Red Arrows pilot after being plied with alcohol as a trainee.
The young officer alleged she was a victim of sexual harassment, sleaze and bullying during her time in the world-famous squadron.
The woman, who was in training at the time and is being called Kate to protect her identity, left the service in October 2020.
She told Sky News that members of the aerobatic display team thought they were “untouchable”.
Kate said: “That’s what they thought they were and that is why it was so dangerous.”
She also claimed a male colleague warned her when she first joined the squadron.
Read more News
They allegedly said: “You could be a notch on a crew member’s bedpost … Just be very careful with your reputation.”
“I felt really uncomfortable, almost dirty, actually,” Kate added.
She alleged she was “plied with alcohol” on a night out by one pilot while on tour overseas.
Kate claimed she was unable to consent and “woke up with that pilot in my room the next day”.
Most read in The Sun
The RAF launched a non-statutory probe in 2021 after three women complained to then-RAF chief Sir Mike Wigston.
The report, going back to 2017, was finally published in November more than 15 months after it was finished — alongside a second into leadership failures.
Many pages were redacted, including details of at least 64 examples of “unacceptable behaviours”.
But in between the censor’s black pen, the report warned the Red Arrows was “not a safe environment for females”.
It found women were highly likely to face “harassment because of their sex”.
And female staff who dared speak out were accused of being “over-sensitive” or a “typical woman”.
Harassment included groping, sexting, sexual propositions and “male sexual entitlement”.
The report said women were viewed “as the property of either individuals or the squadron”.
Kate and a further two women and one man criticised the RAF’s internal investigation.
She said: “They want us quiet and they think it will go away and it’s not going to happen because none of us are happy with how it’s been dealt with.
“It’s appalling. We haven’t had any justice.”
An RAF spokesperson said: “Two comprehensive and thorough investigations have been completed relating to unacceptable behaviours within the Red Arrows.
“The findings of the investigations led to action being taken against several individuals, up to and including dismissal from the Service.
“This was followed by an unreserved apology from the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) and the introduction of many changes within the unit based on the recommendations of the reports.
“As CAS has previously stated, any new evidence on unacceptable behaviours anywhere in the RAF will be thoroughly investigated.
Read more on The Sun
“Where appropriate, he will not hesitate to use the most severe sanctions available to deal with those whose behaviour harms others.”
Untouchable: Inside the Red Arrows airs on Sky News at 9pm on Wednesday, December 27.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/feed/
Jonathan Rose
