Jimmy Jeffs | |
|---|---|
 Jimmy Jeffs at work (1920s) | |
| Born | George James Horatio Jeffs 27 January 1900 Aston, UK |
| Died | 14 May 1996 |
George James Horatio Jeffs , commonly known as Jimmy Jeffs CVO OBE (27 January 1900 - 14 May 1996) was a civilian air traffic control officer at Croydon Airport, London. In 1922 he was issued Air Traffic Control License No. 1. He is credited with developing several early procedures for preventing aircraft collisions. [1]
George James Horatio Jeffs was born on 27 January 1900 in Aston, Warwickshire. [2] [3] 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. [3]
In 1922 he started working at Croydon Airport. [4] [5] On 22 February 1922 Jeffs was issued Air Traffic Control License No. 1. [4] [6] He used aircraft reports and his own calculations to locate the planes and represented them on a map by piercing different coloured pins into it, adjusting them as the aircraft moved along their routes. [6] [7] Later, he added flags to mark call signs and altitudes. [6]
During the Second World War, Jeffs lead the organisation of the North Atlantic Airspace. [4] [8]
In 1946 the United States awarded Jeffs with the Legion of Merit. [10] In 1960 he was made CVO. [11]
Jeffs died at home on 14 May 1996 in Bournemouth. [12] He was survived by his children and wife, Phyllis. [12]
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