On 5 March 2025, the air crew of ‘Skier 94’ distinguished themselves by demonstrating exceptional airmanship and ingenuity, overcoming diverse challenges, and pioneering a landmark capability for Arctic operations during the joint exercise, Operation Nanook-Nunalivut (Op NA-NU25). 

Op NA-NU25 was a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) annual joint, combined, all domain operation conducted in Canada’s High Arctic. The operation was staged in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. Joint Task Force-North executed Op NA-NU25, between 23 Feb 25 and 8 Mar 25, to demonstrate CAF’s resolve and ability to project and sustain forces in the arctic, improve interoperability with allies, other government departments, and agency partners, and enhance pan-domain awareness of the region. The main objective was to demonstrate the ability to secure NORAD Northern Warning Sites in the Beaufort Delta Region of the Canadian Arctic.

During Op NA-NU25, 109th Airlift Wing personnel were tasked with establishing a critical sea-ice landing hub for a diverse, multinational force of military and scientific teams. The success of this mission was jeopardized when an exhaustive search over 25,000 square miles of the Arctic Ocean revealed no ice capable of supporting viable LC-130H landing zones. With the objectives for numerous international partners and the entire joint operation at risk, the crew of ‘Skier 94’ spearheaded a groundbreaking and unproven alternative, leading directly to their historic achievement. Refusing to concede failure, they demonstrated exceptional initiative by undertaking an unprecedented operation: the first-ever landing of an LC-130H aircraft on the semi-prepared freshwater ice; on Parsons Lake, Northwest Territories.

This undertaking presented a profound engineering and airmanship challenge. The crew was operating in a domain with fundamentally different material properties than their extensive sea ice experience had prepared them for. The distinct crystalline structure and lack of salinity in freshwater ice result in different mechanical strength and fracture behaviours, introducing significant, unproven risks. To surmount this, the crew initiated a masterclass in collaborative planning, entering into a continuous, vital information exchange with the Polar Camp Skiway Team and partnering with the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL).

The crew’s role transcended simple execution; they were integral to the analytical process. In close partnership with CRREL, they engaged in extensive pre-mission research to fully comprehend complex scientific data on ice bearing capacity, load distribution, and the physics of vehicle-induced resonance waves. From their aerial vantage point during reconnaissance flights, the crew provided indispensable real-time feedback on ice conditions, allowing ground teams to precisely tailor the Skiway construction. Their meticulous analysis was central to overcoming immense technical obstacles, especially when confronted with an ice thickness thinner than established routine use.

Based on this collaborative analysis, the crew was instrumental in developing the comprehensive risk assessment that justified a waiver from the 109th Operations Group Commander. To mitigate the catastrophic risk of aircraft-induced resonance waves shattering the underweight ice, the crew engineered and rigorously rehearsed innovative groundspeed avoidance procedures—a novel technique developed specifically to neutralize this threat. In the days preceding the event, they conducted multiple low approaches, methodically inspecting the prepared surface for any hazards.

On 5 March, the crew of ‘Skier 94’ executed a flawless landing on the semi-prepared skiway. They expertly operated the aircraft with disciplined precision, strictly adhering to their newly codified procedures before taking off, concluding the operation without incident. This sortie not only salvaged the multinational operation's objectives but also served as a full-scale validation of pioneering scientific analysis and aviation ingenuity. The strategic ramifications of this freshwater ski landing are immense. This achievement effectively unlocked hundreds of potential landing sites across the vast Arctic landscape, providing a crucial alternative when traditional runways or sea ice are unavailable. This directly enhances the ability of the United States and partners to conduct a wide range of missions in the Arctic, to include rapid military insertion, extraction, and aeromedical evacuation, ultimately bolstering Allied presence and effectiveness in the region.  In recognition of an innovative and exceptional contribution to aviation, the crew of ‘Skier 94’ is awarded the Sir Barnes Wallis Medal.

1979/80  Gabe Rob (Jock) Bryce

1980/81  Captain John Archibald Cameron OBE

1982  not awarded

1982/83  John A Denyer

1983/84  HMS Endurance Flight

1984/85  Air Cdre Peter Howard

1986  not awarded

1986/87  Peter F Cedervall

1988  not awarded

1988/89  Jeffrey Kindersley Quill OBE

1990 - 1992  not awarded

1992/93  A J Smith

1994  not awarded

1994/95  Michael Foale PhD

1996  not awarded

1996/97  Keith Perrin

1997/98  Gp Capt John Cunningham CBE DSO** DFC* AE

1998/99  Wg Cdr K H Wallis

1999/2000  Peter Holding

2000/01 Professor Kay Young PhD

2001/02  Lt Cdr Paul C J Stone RN and Sqn Ldr Justin Paines

2002/03  Dr Martin (Dill) Faulkes

2003/04  Sqn Ldr Charles W (Bill) Thompson

2004/05  Kenneth Peter Ross Smart

2005/06  5 Regt AAC

2006/07  Sam Wells OBE

2008   not awarded

2008/09  Timothy Prince OBE FRAeS

2010  not awarded

2010/11  Maj David Amlôt MBE

2011/12  Michael John Miller-Smith

2012/13  Nicholas Dean Lappos

2013/14  Hybrid Air Vehicles

2014/15  Dr Richard Raistrick OBE

2016 - 2017   not awarded

2018  AVM Simon "Rocky" Rochelle OBE DFC RAF

2019  Maj Thomas W Aseltine USAF

2020  F-16 Cruise Missile Defence Tactics Development Team

2021  Sqn Ldr James Skinner RAF

2022  Sqn Ldr Calum Law RAF

2023  not awarded

2024  Captain Mario Carretta OBE

2025  WO2 Marc Cook RA