Jimmy Phillips learned to fly as a National Serviceman at 6 FTS, Turnhill in 1949 and subsequently served with 604 Sqd. and 610 Sqd. Royal Aux. Air Force flying Vampire and Meteors. He joined de Havilland at Chester in 1953 flight testing Vampires and Venoms. He moved to de Havilland's Propeller Division at Hatfield in 1955 and then transferred to the de Havilland Aircraft Co. in 1960 where he was engaged in Comet and Trident test flying.