The Master's Medal
Awarded to any person in aviation, at any time, for an act or other achievement in aviation considered worthy of the Medal, as soon as the facts of the event are clear. This is intended to be an immediate award, made at the discretion of the Master. It is done so on the advice of the Trophies and Awards Committee, after careful consideration and due diligence.
(Amended Terms of Reference 2019)
2026 awarded to: Captain Jason "SOSA" Nemes
Captain Jason Nemes distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight during combat operations in East Africa. As Combat Systems Officer on a U-28A special operations intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance aircraft, his technical mastery and tactical acumen enable a successful rescue operation in a difficult combat situation.
Immediately after takeoff, enroute to a planned routine mission, Captain Nemes received notification that a partner nation had lost contact with a friendly helicopter over contested enemy territory. Fearing for the worst, Capt Nemes rapidly shifted his crew’s mission to assist with search and rescue efforts. With no communication from the downed crew and only a broad area of probability, he assumed tactical control of the developing crisis and initiated a rapid, coordinated response with American and coalition forces.
Operating under the fog of war and uncertain threat conditions, Capt Nemes made the decisive tactical call to maneuver his aircraft above known enemy engagement envelopes, balancing crew survivability with mission urgency. During the rapid transit to the search area, he orchestrated a complex, multi‑layered communication plan linking air and ground assets while simultaneously directing personnel recovery preparations.
Upon arrival over a dense jungle spanning hundreds of miles in all directions, Capt Nemes expertly employed advanced mission systems, establishing a sensor geofence to focus detection efforts and prevent wasted search time. Within minutes, he identified the heat signature of the crash site concealed beneath thick foliage and confirmed the accountability and survival of all eight partner force members.
Recognising the proximity of an assessed enemy stronghold only five kilometres away, Capt Nemes immediately directed his second sensor to identify a safe ingress and egress route for the recovery convoy while personally maintaining defensive scans for hostile activity within a one‑kilometre radius. His precise intelligence enabled friendly forces to launch a ground recovery within the hour and safely extract all personnel.
Throughout the operation, Captain Nemes provided continuous overwatch for more than twenty recovery personnel and the eight rescued crew members. His decisive actions, technical mastery, and flawless execution directly ensured the success of the mission and prevented the loss of life for all coalition personnel involved. He is accordingly awarded the Master’s Medal.
Previous Winners:
... of the Guild Medal
1976 F A Laker Esq
1977 awarded twice
Captain J Schuman (posthumously) and Herr J Veito of Lufthansa Flight 181
The Royal Air Force Red Arrow Aerobatic Team
... of the Master's Medal
1985 Captain John Testrake
1986 PO ACMN L Slater
1987 R Branson Esq and Per Lindstrand
1988 Captain S Yousif
1989 not awarded
1990 FO A Atchison
1991 Miss H Sharman
1992 not awarded
1993 Captain E J Wyer
1994 not awarded
1995 Air Cdre A N Nicholson OBE QHS RAF
1996 - 1998 not awarded
1999 Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard of the Breitling Orbiter 3
2000 not awarded
2001 Polly Vacher
2002 Caroline Gough-Cooper and Imogen Asker
2003 David K Hempleman-Adams OBE
2004 HMS ENDURANCE
2005 Not Awarded
2006 The crew of 7 Flt AAC - WOI1 Challis (Aircraft Commander), Sgt Khanlarian and Cpl Leah
2007 Awarded twice:
Apache Patrol Members of 656 Sqn AAC
POACM James O'Donnell QGM
2008 not awarded
2009 Awarded twice:
The Crew of US Airways Flight 1549
Captain Charles "Chalkie" Stobbart
2010 Awarded twice:
Captain Michael Fairhurst and First Officer James Brown
Captain Stephen Noujaim
2011 Lt Cdr William Strickland USCG
2012 David "Wheely Dave" Sykes
2013 Awarded twice:
Lt Cdr Vincent Jansen USCG
Sgt Rachael Robinson QGM
2014 not awarded
2015 Solar Impulse - Dr Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg
2016 Awarded twice:
Tracey Curtis-Taylor
Timothy Peake CMG BSc(Hons)
2017 Awarded twice:
Flt Sgt Mike Rowlands
Cdr Matthew Grindon RN
2018 not awarded
2019 Awarded to:
Winchman Paramedic Carlton Real
Wg Cdr Rob Caine MBE MA RAF
James Ketchall
2020 Flt Lt Richard Davoren RAF
2021 Awarded twice:
Lt Col Adam Thornton USAF
Flt Lt Matthew Douglas RAF
2022 Awarded twice:
Zara Rutherford
Mack Rutherford
2023 Flight Lieutenant Matthew Pilbeam RAF
2024 Captain Neil Jeffers
2025 Joint: RAF Flight 1312 and Crew of Rescue 1