Scores of cancer-stricken RAF veterans who were exposed to a “toxic soup” of chemicals at Scots airbases are being denied justice, it was claimed yesterday.
A former Scots Guard has compiled a harrowing list of more than 100 specialist engineers who fell seriously ill after being exposed to potent solvents in their work with the RAF in the 80s and 90s – about half of them having worked at bases in Lossiemouth, Leuchars and Kinloss.
And as one widow sees her late husband’s quest for compensation thrown out due to a lack of evidence, Les Mason has demanded a public inquiry into the “Victorian” conditions veterans worked under.
He claims too many cases are being dismissed without proper investigation and wants MoD bosses to finally commit to a full-scale probe into the spiralling cluster of illnesses. He said: “This is a money-saving exercise across the board.
"People are telling me their claims have been so drawn out over many years that the anticipation is that they will either die or give up before the claim is finished. That is the general consensus throughout the veteran community I deal with.”
The Record first investigated the plight of Scotland’s “squippers”– who repaired aircrew survival kit – in 2016 and the list of servicemen and women falling ill has since risen from two dozen to more than 100. Many of the engineers have cancers including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, throat cancer and blood cancer.
Others are battling life-threatening respiratory and skin disorders which they claim were caused by a shocking litany of health and safety failures. All those affected worked repairing or making liferafts, survival equipment and immersion suits for pilots, navigators and aircrew.
They all used glues, hardeners, solvents, resins, elastomers and lubricants daily in confined working bays with little ventilation and no safety masks, gloves or coveralls. The products were made from a mix of toxic and poisonous chemicals including known human carcinogens, which Les describes as a “toxic soup”.
The teams used trichloroethylene – known as trike – which as well as causing cancer is linked to a sixfold increase in Parkinson’s in individuals exposed to it in the workplace. They also handled toluene – so toxic it is banned in glue and spray paint at concentrations above 0.1 per cent. Sustained exposure can lead to coma and death.
Many, championed by Les, have launched legal fights against RAF chiefs, signing non-disclosure agreements in their bid for justice. Some have seen success.
In 2020, Michael Boyd was awarded a significant sum – believed to be six figures – just hours before his case was due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The former squipper, who died soon after, argued that his time working at RAF Kinloss in the 80s was solely to blame for his incurable non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
But Les, who taught preventive medicine and worked as a medical and safety officer after leaving the Army, claims scores of others are losing out due to a lack of research and a reluctance by RAF chiefs to accept health and safety failings and reveal vital details about previous conditions.
Steve Walker, from Thirsk, Yorkshire, worked as a squipper at RAF Kinloss and other bases for a total of nine years between the mid-80s and 2001. He died of throat cancer in 2016 – just over a year after being diagnosed – at the age of 58.
He believed his terminal illness was caused by daily exposure over years of service to carcinogenic chemicals in poorly ventilated rooms with little or no protective clothing and lodged a bid for compensation for his family six months before his death. That case was rejected and later revived by his widow Kath.
But now, after more than six years, a tribunal of the war pensions and Armed Forces compensation chamber has dismissed the case again – saying it cannot be proved that his illness was linked to his work. Kath, 68, has called for more investigation into the chemicals used and certain types of cancer.
She said: “I asked the RAF for a lot of health and safety information, which they said they couldn’t find. They accepted that there was poor health and safety, as I have documents which say extractor fans weren’t even put in place until 1998, but you have to prove that there is a cause between the specific chemicals and oesophageal cancer and there aren’t a lot of studies attributed to that.
“Although the medics in the case said there was an association between his type of cancer and tryke, it doesn’t mean its a cause. They say ‘an association’ isn’t good enough. The studies just aren’t there.”
Les has taken up the case and will lodge an appeal claiming the Secretary of State failed to properly investigate and confirm the list of substances used by Steve, so cannot rule out a link to his cancer. Les said: “In 2016, there was 26 names on the list of veterans falling ill.
“That list is now well over 100 names and we’ve been contacted by another group within the RAF who have multiple cancers and used the same chemicals. They worked in aircraft hangars with no ventilation at all.
“Inspection reports by the RAF themselves in the 80s state that these men were working in Victorian conditions in the wrong ventilation. It’s horrendous to read and the report speaks to how the RAF would have to try and find money to implement the changes needed.
“This all comes down to cost over health. There are so many cases involving these men emerging now and they want to pay out as little as possible.
“Steve Walker died before his case could properly be heard. How can they refuse Steve’s widow when there have been very little tests done on these products and their effects?”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The health of our serving personnel and veterans continues to be of paramount importance and policies are in place governing the use of hazardous substances and these are strictly enforced.
“Financial support may be available to veterans and dependants whose illness or death is found to be attributable to service.”
Don't miss the latest n ews from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
