F3WMB, some of them deserve losing their liberty never mind their pensions, but the essential thing to take completely away from them is Regulatory Authority. That should reduce the number of future widows markedly.
That would mean that the Regulatory Authority, ie the MAA, and the Accident Investigator, ie the MAAIB, should both be made independent of the MOD and of each other, and both should be headed up by civilian DG's.
...or leave the same old incestuous arrangements in place whereby Investigator is controlled by Regulator is controlled by MOD and up the widows' pensions as you suggest...
Self Regulation Doesn't Work and in Aviation It Kills!