John Roberts is a highly experienced Police Line Pilot who has flown in support of police operations for 22 years since leaving the Royal Navy. In 2007 the Metropolitan Police Service acquired three highly capable EC145 helicopters, equipped with state-of-the-art camera and mission systems and in 2010 the Air Support Unit was requested to assist SO15 as part of UK Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) preparedness. John volunteered to take on the coordination and planning for this new role and for the past 12 years has been responsible for the Police Air Support provision of helicopters to SO15 in support of MCT.

The role was initially envisaged as being one of post event evidence gathering however, John’s demonstration of the capabilities of crews and aircraft systems soon led to this expanding into an aerial surveillance role, working closely with UK Special Forces and military aviation assets.  John was instrumental in building a close working relationship with SF as well us conducting training for the police crews involved in what is a complex and highly dynamic aviation environment.

He also assisted with development of the communication infrastructure that allows images to be relayed in real time to operational control centres. John regularly represents the National Police Air Service at planning events as well as flying missions during frequent MCT training exercises. He is viewed as the Police Aviation expert and has more experience in this field of operations than most, if not all, of the other attendees at the planning and training events. John has achieved this in addition to carrying out his normal duties as a Police Line Pilot and Training Captain.

His ability to plan and supervise complex operations outside of normal business led to him being approached by the MPS Chief Pilot to take on the further role of coordinating aviation support during US presidential visits. John has assisted with four POTUS visits to the UK where he has established similarly effective working relationships with the US Marine Corps and Secret Service. He has been personally commended by the USMC Colonel responsible for Marine 1 (the presidential helicopter) for his expertise and assistance in ensuring the successful movement by helicopter of POTUS during four visits. John’s ability to not only fly challenging missions in support of MCT and US presidential visits, but to also coordinate with multiple agencies has been commented on by Downing Street aides.

John works tirelessly to provide the best possible support and has even taken the time to visit US colleagues during his leave periods. John’s hard work and dedication over the last 12 years have made an invaluable contribution to UK security operations, over and above his work as a Police Air Support pilot and for his outstanding performance in the operation of airborne systems, John Roberts is awarded the Johnson Memorial Trophy.

1931  Sir Francis Chichester

1932  Sqn Ldr Herbert and  J L Hinkler Esq

1933  J A Mollison Esq

1934  not awarded

1935  E W Percival Esq

1936  Miss Jean Batten

1937  A S Wilcockson Esq

1938  D C T Bennett Esq

1940 - 1948  not awarded

1948/49  W H Crowther Esq, R B Tapp Esq, L R Ambrose Esq  -  QANTAS

1949/50  Captain P G Taylor

1951  not awarded

1950/51  Captain P G Taylor

1952  not awarded

1951/52  Captain P G Taylor

1952/53  Captains and Crew of Service Aircraft "Aries"

1953/54  Pilots and Navigators of Comet Fleet BOAC

1955  not awarded

1955/56  Captain J H Saffery and Pilots and Navigators of Hunting Aero Surveys on Antartic Expedition

1956/57  Sqn Ldr J H Lewis, Commanding the RAF Detachment Unit with the British Commonwealth Trans-Antartic Expedition

1957/58  Captain and Navigational Crews of the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment

1959/60  The Decca Navigator Company Limited

1961  not awarded

1961/62  G E Beck Esq and M Morgan Esq of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co.

1962/63  Wg Cdr D F H Grocott

1964 - 1967  not awarded

1967/68  Wg Cdr E W Anderson

1969 - 1973  not awarded

1973/74  Flt Lt R M S Cook & Flt Lt R W Hardisty

1974/75  Flt Lt E G Candlish & Flt Lt J Vinales

1976  Not Awarded

1976/77  W P Robinson Esq

1977/78  The Royal Air Force Tanker Wing 

1979  not awarded

1979/80  Captain G Vette & M Forsyth Esq 

1981 - 1982  not awarded

1982/83  Cdr S C Thornewill RN

1984 - 1985  not awarded

1985/86  The Giotto Space Probe Navigation Team

1986/87  The Voyager Team

1988   not awarded

1988/89  Wg Cdr Raymond L Lomas RAF

1989/90  Peter Norvill Esq

1991 - 1994  not awarded

1994/95  Flt Lt J W Hendy

1995/96  Captain Alex Fisher

1996/97  Captain David Massy-Greene of QANTAS

1997/98  James C Lawson Esq

1998/99  Jon Johanson

1999/2000  Flt Lt David Wilson RAF

2000/01  Thomas Beverley Nichols

2001/02  Flt Lt Timothy Carr RAF

2002/03  Geoffrey Alan Burtenshaw

2003/04  33 Sqn RAF

 2005  not awarded

2005/06  Sea King Mk7 Trials Team - Lt Cdr Tite RN, Lt Cdr Ling RN, Lt Cdr Smith RNR, Lt Cdr Richardson RN (retd)

2006/07  Boeing J0UCAS Programme X-45A

2007/08  815 Naval Air Squadron Training Team

2008/09  5 (AC) Sqn

2009/10  51 Sqn RAF

2010/11  Attack Helicopter Force ("UK Team Apache")

2011/12  Sqn Ldr J Jody McMeeking RAF

2012/13  Sqn Ldr Simon Mellor RAF

2013/14   3rd Special Operations Squadron USAF

2015   not awarded

2016   Royal Air Force UK Reaper Force

2017  British Antarctic Survey Air Unit

2018   700X NAS

2019   The Tornado GR Force

2020  not awarded

2021  The Royal Air Force Sentinel Force

2022  The Royal Air Force E-3D Sentry Force

2023  Captain John Roberts