Godfrey Paine
Sir Godfrey Marshall Paine, was a senior officer in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force in the early part of the 20th century. He played a leading role in joint and naval flying training before and during the First World War.
Early life
Godfrey Marshall Paine was born on, the fourth son of James Paine and his wife Henrietta Grace.Royal Navy career
Paine joined the Royal Navy in early 1885, becoming a midshipman on 15 June 1887. He was a lieutenant on, before becoming first lieutenant on the armoured cruiser on its commission in late 1902. In 1903, Paine was promoted to commander and later served as the executive officer on his old ship HMS Renown.In 1907, Paine was promoted captain and in 1909, he was appointed the Officer Commanding the Third Destroyer Flotilla. This appointment was followed by command of the torpedo schoolship in 1911. It was while Paine was in command of Actaeon that he first became involved in naval aviation. The first four Royal Naval and Royal Marine officers who learnt to fly were borne on the books of Actaeon, and Paine took a keen interest in their progress.
File:Central Flying School staff in January 1913.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Central Flying School staff at Upavon Aerodrome in January 1913. Paine is in the front row, shown third from the left.
In 1912, Paine was appointed as the first commandant of the Central Flying School at Upavon Aerodrome, so, before taking up this post, he learned to fly, being awarded List of pilots awarded an Aviator's Certificate by the [Royal Aero Club in 1912|Pilot's Licence No. 217] on 15 May 1912. Three years later in 1915, after the Royal Naval Air Service had formally separated from the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Navy established the Central Depot and Training Establishment. The new unit was based at Cranwell, and Paine was raised to the rank of commodore, first class, and sent there as its first commander. Just over a year later, in early 1917, Paine was appointed Fifth Sea Lord, making him responsible for all naval aviation.