Originally Cardington was owned by Short brothers, hence the name Shorts Town for the large housing estate clustered around the entrance to the field.
After a relatively short period of time and after the first of the sheds was erected it was compulsory purchased by the government and became the Royal Airships Works.
As for the RAF involvement they were certainly operated by the RAF as the Royal Navy's Air Service and the Army's Royal flying Corps ceased to exist and were merged to form the RAF.
There is an excellent book called 'Airships Cardington' (from the telegraph address) which traces the story of the place.