AA
OK, why did they do it?
Lets treat this like an investigation.
What was the possible motive for a bunch of UK military to protect the blushes of Boeing?
I can only come up with either.
1. It's bollocks
2. They were bribed.
3. There was some larger political reason to not embarass Boeing at the time. We are only an instrument of policy for a government, and there may have been some deal on the cards.
If
1. then grow up.
2. then I will be first in line to pull the trigger on the b@stards
3. then grow up and accept the reality of political machinations.