The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Staff Sergeant Robert F. Summers (ASN: R-1332222), U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism while participating in an aerial flight, as a member of the 4th Observation Squadron, during a flight from Luke Field, Territory of Hawaii, to Hilo, Island of Hawaii, on 14 May 1930. Sergeant Summers was mechanic in a Loening amphibian plane piloted by Lieutenant Edwin W. Rawlings, flying number three position in the flight of three amphibians which were part of a flight of 16 planes engaged in a tactical training fight. At about 11:07 a.m. one of the bombing planes fell out of control at an altitude of about 8,000 feet, and the crew were forced to take to their parachutes, landing in the rough sea. At the time of the accident and throughout the day a very strong wind was blowing, whipping up the waves to a dangerous height. After his pilot had landed his plane in an attempt to rescue the crew, Sergeant Summers worked tirelessly on the motor, which was missing badly, attempting to keep it going so that the plane could be maneuvered to the vicinity of the personnel in the water. Although unsuccessful in their attempt to effect the rescue by their landing in close proximity to the men in the water the crew of a Navy flying boat was able to see the men and effect their rescue. Sergeant Summers and his pilot were not rescued from their position until about 7 p.m. that day.