John Summers

Group Captain John Kenneth Summers (born 22 December 1894, date of death unknown) was a British First World War flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. Early life and background Summers was born on Shamian Island, the British Concession in Canton, China, where his father, J. A. Summers, was an employee of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service. Later he attended the University of Birmingham. World War I Summers was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 25 January 1915, and served in the 13th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, until transferred to the General List on 30 April to serve in the Royal Flying Corps. As an observer he served in No. 3 Squadron RFC, and later trained as a pilot. Summers was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 2154 on 13 December 1915, after soloing a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military School at Birmingham. On completing his training he was appointed a flying officer on 29 February 1916. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1916, and appointed a flight commander with the acting-rank of captain on 8 March 1917. On 9 April 1917 he received a mention in despatches for "distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty" from Field-Marshal Douglas Haig, the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France, and on 18 July 1917 was awarded the Military Cross. His citation read: Temporary Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Kenneth Summers, General List, and R.F.C. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has continuously performed valuable work in co-operating with the artillery. He has on many occasions flown at a very low altitude in order to give information to the infantry, which has proved of the utmost value."