Newly-declassified documents show that until the 1990s the RAF forced suspected lesbians to undergo treatment for their ‘perversion’.

A ban on homosexuals serving in the military was lifted in 2000. However, according to The Daily Mail, prior to this lesbians and bisexuals were considered mentally ill and were told to undergo psychological treatment. The documents are held at London’s National Archives.

A briefing paper from the 1950s, entitled ‘A Special Problem’, stated that, “No one can really help another person to steer clear of the dangers of homosexuality unless she herself believes it morally wrong and has a definite notion why.” The paper goes on to point out that treatment can only be useful when the person accepted their perversion and wishes to be cured, adding, “For the fortunately rare cases of perverted practice or attempted corruption of other women by talk or example, discharge from the service would be the only course.”

In a memo from the 1960s, written by Group Officer Jean Conan Doyle, attention is drawn to familiarity between women and the practice of sharing beds for warmth: “Airwomen have been known to do this for the sake of warmth in very cold weather and in some strata of society it is a common occurrence for sisters and girl friends to share a bed.” However, she goes on to insist that the practice must be stopped.

A further document from 1967 announced that any woman who sought advice from personnel about problems related to homosexuality while serving abroad should be repatriated immediately.

13 women were dismissed for homosexuality in 1955. This figure rose to 60 in 1970.

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