Godfrey Paine

Background

Godfrey Marshall Paine was born on 21 November 1871, the fourth son of James Paine and his wife Henrietta Grace (née Allen).

Career

He played a leading role in joint and naval flying training before and during World War I. Paine joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in early 1885. He was a lieutenant on HMS Renown, before becoming First Lieutenant on the armoured cruiser HMS Hogue. 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 HMS Actaeon in 1911. lieutenant 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 (Longmore, Samson, Gerrard and Gregory) were borne on the books of Actaeon and Paine took a keen interest in their progress. 217 on 15 May 1912 (at the age of 40).

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. With the establishment of the Royal Air Force in 1918, the posts of Fifth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Air Service were abolished and the Navy"s aircraft and aviators were transferred to the Royal Air Force. Paine was promoted to major-general (a rank of the Royal Air Force at that time) and appointed to the Air Council as Master-General of Personnel.

With the introduction of Royal Air Force-specific ranks in 1919, Paine was regraded to air vice-marshal.

His last military appointment was as Inspector-General of the Royal Air Force. On his retirement from the Royal Air Force on 12 May 1920, Paine was granted the rank of retired Rear-Admiral.

Achievements

• His awards included: Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath – 12 March 1918 (Central Bank - 1914) Member of the Royal Victorian Order – 11 March 1906 Chevalier of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) – 8 November 1918 Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class (Japan) – 8 November 1918 Navy Distinguished Service Medal (United States) – 16 December 1919.