Jimmy Jeffs

George James Horatio Jeffs, commonly known as Jimmy Jeffs (27 January 1900 - 14 May 1996) was a civilian air traffic control officer at Croydon Airport, London. He was issued Air Traffic Control License No. 1. dated 22 February 1922, and is credited with developing several early procedures for preventing aircraft collisions.

Early life George Jeffs was born on 27 January 1900 in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire. He was educated at Kedleston Grammar School and served in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force during the First World War, and subsequently at the Air Ministry. It was then that Air Traffic Control (ATC) first developed. One of the first air traffic officers at Croydon Airport, others included Bill Lawford, Commander Deacon, Captain John Percival Morkham and Mr Russell. (The first air traffic control officers were generally already airport employed personnel with some flying experience rather than specifically trained for the role.) Initially he used aircraft radio reports and his own calculations to locate the planes and represented them with different coloured pins pierced onto a large cross-channel routes map that he stuck to the back of an old cork bathmat. Later, he added flags to mark call signs and altitudes.

Second World War Jeffs was commissioned to RAF Fighter Command at the onset of the Second World War. He was then posted to Overseas Control and then Transatlantic Air Control, Prestwick. In 1956 he succeeded Sir John D'Albiac as Commander of London Airport. In 1957 he was appointed to Heathrow. During his career other postings included Glasgow, Manchester, Belfast, Liverpool, Blackpool, Docaster, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Jersey, Isle of Man, Hull, Orkney, Southampton, Lympne, and Gatwick.

Retirement In 1960 Jeffs retired from Croydon, and was succeeded by Chattaway. In 1960 he was made CVO.

Death Jeffs died at home on 14 May 1996 in Bournemouth. He was survived by his wife, Phyllis, and their children.