construction began on 19 june 1912, on some training gallops, on an elevated site about east of upavon village, near the edge of the salisbury plain, in the english county of wiltshire. upavon airfield was originally created for pilots of the military and naval wings of the newly formed royal flying corps (rfc), and became home to the army central flying school (cfs). captain godfrey m paine, rn, became the first commandant, with major hugh trenchard being his assistant. trenchard later became the chief of air staff, and subsequently became known as the "father of the royal air force".