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Rear Admiral (Air Vice-Marshal) Sir Godfrey Paine


Sir Godfrey Marshall PaineGodfrey Marshall

b: 21 Nov 1871         r: 12 May 1920                    d: 23 Mar 1932

KCB - 12 Mar 1918 (CB - 1 Jan 1914) , MVO - 11 Mar 1906, Cwn Cdr - 8 Nov 1918, RS2 - 8 Nov 1918, DSM (US) - 16 Dec 1919.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RN): - Mid’n: 15 Jun 1887, Sub-Lt:  14 Jun 1891, Lt: 28 Aug 1893, Cdr: 31 Dec 1903, Capt: 30 Jun 1907, Cdre 2nd Cl: 10 Dec 1915, Cdre 1st Cl: 10 Jan 1917?, R-Adm:  1 Jan 1919.

(RAF): - Maj-Gen: 3 Jan 1918, A/Cdre: 1 Aug 1919, AVM: 1 Aug 1919 [23 Aug 1918].

Photo (left) - taken from his RAeC Certificate

Photo (right) -

Sir Godfrey Marshall Paine

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x169561

© National Portrait Gallery, London

xx Jan 1885:            Attended training Establishments

15 Jun 1887:            Midshipman, Royal Yacht?.

28 Apr 1888:            Midshipman, HMS Swiftsure

30 Sept 1893:           Lieutenant, HMS Bellona

 8 Jun 1897:             Lieutenant, HMS Renown. (North American/Mediterranean Station)

19 Nov 1902:            First Lieutenant, HMS Hogue.

21 Feb 1905:            Executive Officer, HMS Renown.

 3 Jun 1909:            Officer Commanding, 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (HMS Diamond).

xx Aug 1911:           Officer Commanding, HMS Actaeon.

xx Dec 1911:            Officer Commanding, Naval Flying School, Eastchurch

15 May 1912:           Commandant, Central Flying School.

10 Dec 1915:            Commodore, Central Depot and Training Establishment, Cranwell.

10 Jan 1917:             5th Sea Lord/Director of Air Services.

   3 Jan 1918:            Master-General of Personnel, Air Council.

22 Aug 1918:            Inspector-General of the RAF.  

 1 Aug 1919:             Awarded Permanent Commission as a Major-General (gazetted 23 Aug 1918)

 1 Apr 1920:            Placed on the half pay list - Scale A

A young Godfrey Paine Godfrey Paine, as a young Royal Naval Officer
A young Godfrey Paine Godfrey Paine, as a young Royal Naval Officer
Lieutenant Godfrey Paine at his wedding Commander Godfrey Paine (right) possibly whilst Executive officer, HMS Renown
Lieutenant Godfrey Paine at his wedding Commander Godfrey Paine (right) possibly whilst Executive officer, HMS Renown
Captain Godfrey Paine Air Vice Marshal Sir Godfrey Paine
Captain Godfrey Paine Major General Sir Godfrey Paine
Air Vice Marshal Sir Godfrey Paine at his desk Rear Admiral Sir Godfrey Paine
Major General Sir Godfrey Paine at his desk Rear Admiral Sir Godfrey Paine
Major General Sir Godfrey Paine

All photos courtesy James Sanders (his great grandson)

Selected to command the Central Flying School on its formation in 1912, he had to learn to fly before being able to take up the post, gaining RAeC Certificate No 217 on 14 May 1912.  The school formally opened on 19 June 1912, although Captain Paine did not arrive at Upavon until 25 July having remained at the War Office to oversee it’s establishment.  The first course assembled on 17 August and consisted of 5 Naval/Marine, 10 Army and 4 Special Reserve officers.  A further 1 Naval and 6 Army officers joined the course before graduation in April 1913 with all but one officer being successful.  After the separation of the Naval Wing into the RNAS, he requested to remain at CFS and was permitted to do so.  However, in 1915 the Admiralty decided to form it's own equivalent of the CFS at Cranwell and demanded his return to take command of the new school.  On retiring from the RAF he reverted to his Naval rank.  

After retiring in 1920 he became Chairman of Totalisators Ltd.  Following his death he was buried at sea off Nab Tower, Portsmouth.

This page was last updated on 26/08/19

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