Biggus
supposedly easily obtainable evidence
Not supposedly. Full evidence on Who wasted money/committed fraud, When and Why submitted to Haddon-Cave, Lord Philip (especially), Public Accounts Committee and MPs.
why aren't investigative journalists taking any interest in this story?
The better question would be why none of the above took an interest. One of the more eminent IJs did take an interest a few years ago. MoD’s (successful) strategy was simply not to comment, mainly because denial was futile in the face of said evidence (primarily letters from Mins(AF) to MPs, in particular Ainsworth and Ingram).
The common feature of all these committees, inquiries (and indeed many posts on pprune) is that there is a willingness to moan and groan, but not to investigate and find the truth. (The rubbish spouted about “procurement” is a typical example). First, this requires time, effort and understanding, which few have. Second, because that truth is often unpalatable. The exception was Haddon-Cave, who named a number of people; but he got them wrong. If that were all he’d done, then it could be dismissed as incompetence (given he was led by the nose to the real MoD culprits). But he compounded his actions by praising the latter. The silence has been deafening since this was pointed out to various MPs, Ministers and H-C himself. Even more so since the Philip Inquiry evidence wholly contradicted H-C. (Remember, H-C’s claims were not evidence based; the submissions to both he and Philip were). Philip also contradicted H-C’s claim that the main problem (deliberate waste followed by cutting airworthiness to compensate) commenced in 1998; albeit obliquely. Nevertheless, it is in his report if you understand the subject.
The only reason for this must be desperation to protect certain individuals by throwing lower ranks to the wolves. Now THAT is something most here on pprune agree is routine in MoD (both Military and CS). Their utter silence following the Philip Inquiry says it all.
The MoD is willing to pursue junior ranks (quite rightly in this WO’s case), yet commit significant funding and resources to protect those whose deliberate actions have wasted billions and caused so many deaths. The might of the Thames Valley Police, RAF Provost Marshall, Health and Safety Executive and Crown Prosecution Service were set upon those named by Haddon-Cave (esp. Baber and Eagles). That act showed willingness to prosecute. But they stopped dead in their tracks when it was demonstrated the ability of these two to function had been compromised by VSOs (including those praised by H-C). So why didn’t they then pursue the VSOs with equal vigour? They are a protected species, that’s why. 2 Star and above is more a political post than Military/CS. It isn’t fair, and we’ll never fix it; but that doesn’t stop you gathering and making public the evidence (within legal bounds). When AMSO / Chief Engineer issued orders to knowingly waste money and run down airworthiness, I was one of many who were told to keep detailed records, because the regs state you must be able to justify decisions retrospectively. I never thought for one minute they’d ever be used, but they were. The task now is to ensure the direct link between this deliberate waste (fraud) and lack of airworthiness is fully understood. That is more difficult, which doesn’t make for a good media article.