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Thunderbirds Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
26 Episodes 1965 - 1966
Episode 1
Trapped in the Sky
53 mins
The Hood plants a bomb in the landing gear of a new supersonic airliner, the Fireflash - on which Tin-Tin is aboard - to draw International Rescue out into the open for its first mission.
Episode 2
Pit of Peril
49 mins
When the US Army's new armored vehicle, the Sidewinder, falls into a burning pit during a field test, International Rescue must haul the machine out and save the three-man crew on board.
Episode 3
The Perils of Penelope
48 mins
Professor Borender is kidnapped and his assistant, Sir Jeremy Hodge goes to Lady Penelope help find the missing scientist. While on the trail, they are captured on a monorail train by the villainous, Dr. Godber. Along with his henchman, Roache, Godber has Lady Penelope tied to the monorail track and threatens her life when the next train comes through unless the two scientists reveal the details of a conversion formula that Godber demands.
Episode 4
Terror in New York City
48 mins
A Texas oil well fire is extinguished by International Rescue, but stewing over the proceeding is Ned Cook, a famous TV news personality, who has been barred from taping IR in action. As Scott and Virgil take off for home, Cook has his cameraman, Joe, record Thunderbird One's takeoff and flight, which brings on pursuit of Ned and Joe's TV truck by Scott. Scott uses an energy ray to erase Cook's recording, then resumes course for home. But the delay proves fortuitous for Scott, for over the Pacific Ocean Virgil is tracked by the USS Sentinal, a surface combatant capable of hundreds of knots. The ship scans Thunderbird Two and cannot identify the craft, and gets word from Washington to treat the unidentified aircraft as hostile. Missiles are launched at Virgil, who radios a distress call to Tracy Island before a second salvo blasts the tail section of Thunderbird Two and injures Virgil. Jeff Tracy contacts Washington and the Sentinel finally learns of Thunderbird Two's identity, but even though Virgil nurses the crippled craft home, his injury and the craft's heavy damage put Thunderbird Two out of action until parts and pieces for the ship can arrive for IR's mammoth robot repair station to go into action. In the interregnum, as Virgil recovers, the family watch a live telecast of the world's most audacious engineering project - the moving of the Empire State Building to a new location in downtown New York City. Covering the event is Ned Cook, but as the mammoth skyscraper is moved, the ground begins to crack, and just before signing off Cook and Joe are swallowed in a mammoth sinkhole, just before the building collapses into the ground, burying both men alive. They somehow survive, but with Thunderbird Two crippled there is no possibility of IR pulling off a rescue - until Virgil realizes the help they need is available from an unlikely source.
Episode 5
Edge of Impact
48 mins
Hired by General Bron to sabotage Britain's new Red Arrow fighter jet, the Hood endangers two technicians when he causes the plane's second prototype to crash into a TV relay tower.
Episode 6
Day of Disaster
48 mins
Brains and Lady Penelope find themselves involved in a rescue mission when the Arlington Bridge collapses, trapping the Martian Space Probe and its engineers in the river bed.
Episode 7
30 Minutes After Noon
49 mins
Thomas Prescott picks up a strange hitch hiker who suddenly attaches a bomb to his wrist, then tells him he needs to get to the 'Hudson Building' before 8pm to find the key and avoid being killed in the explosion. Prescott makes it to the building but is still in an elevator when the bomb detonates trapping the man amid the carnage of the bombing and subsequent fire. International Rescue spring into action deploying all their resources in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped man
Episode 8
Desperate Intruder
48 mins
The Hood sees an opportunity to affect International Rescues operations when he hears of their involvement in an archaeological expedition to Africa. By using his mental connection with his half brother Kyrano, the Hood develops a trap that could place Tin Tin and Brains in the ultimate peril. Will International Rescue be able to stop the Hood and save to valuable members of the organization
Episode 9
End of the Road
49 mins
A construction team finishes work on a new road in Asia, and Eddie Housman decides to take a holiday and visit an old girlfriend - Tin Tin. Arriving at the island, Eddie soon becomes emotionally attached to Tin Tin, much to the annoyance of Alan. A phone call summons Eddie back to the construction site and International Rescue is suddenly caught in one of the most dangerous rescues they've attempted, all while trying to hide their identities from Eddie.
Episode 10
The Uninvited
49 mins
In the Sahara, Scott and a pair of archaeologists searching for a fabled pyramid find themselves at the mercy of a hostile band of warriors known as the Zombites.
Episode 11
Sun Probe
49 mins
An exciting mission to the sun runs into trouble when their retro rockets fail to fire. International rescue springs into action using a two pronged plan to get a signal to the doomed ship. The mission succeeds but suddenly International Rescue discover they themselves are in need of rescue
Episode 12
Operation Crash-Dive
49 mins
An experimental passenger plane (Fireflash) crashes while being tested to understand what may have led to a previous accident. Unlike previous flights International rescue believe there may be survivors trapped in the wreckage at the bottom of the sea. After the rescue the boys review the information and notice some odd behavior by the plane shortly before the crash. They request permission to test fly the plane and discover the terrible secret behind the crashes
Episode 13
Vault of Death
48 mins
Parker is challenged to break into the vaults of the Bank Of London. When he succeeds the bank decides to upgrade the alarm system. Unfortunately one of the bank employees is trapped after the upgrade and International Rescue are called to help. Parker does all he can to slow the operation down thinking he is protecting a former safe cracking rival
Episode 14
The Mighty Atom
49 mins
The Hood takes a special interest in the technology being used to run atomic irrigation plants around the world. His first attempt at stealing the technology leads to an atomic explosion. His second attempt using newly acquired spy equipment proves more successful but he decides to take everything a further step and try to steal the secret technology used by International Rescue
Episode 15
City of Fire
49 mins
The world's largest skyscraper, the 'Thompson Tower', is opened amid great fanfare and excitement. Two miles high and containing twelve hotels, it also has space for 10,000 cars. However, a fire breaking out in the basement of the building quickly turns into a major disaster - and International Rescue are called to save the people trapped in the ill-fated building.
Episode 16
The Impostors
49 mins
Crooks in International Rescue uniform steal the plans for the AL-4. This causes General Lambert, not realizing that the machine used was an EJ-2, to organize a search force, putting International Rescue temporarily out of business. Penelope searches for the fake Thunderbirds whilst Jeff Tracy has suspended operations. The Tracy family aren't the only ones with troubles, though: Space Observatory 3, the search satellite in their area, has shut down for 4 hours. Even worse, a man on the search force, Elliott, has accidentally launched himself into space, meaning Jeff must decide between Elliott's life and the lives of the 500 people who could suffer from International Rescue being put out of business. He launches a rescue simply because Penelope is close to clearing them, but can she manage in time?
Episode 17
The Man from MI.5
49 mins
At the behest of a British Secret Service agent, Lady Penelope goes undercover in Monte Carlo to pursue a gang of murderous criminals who have stolen the plans for a nuclear weapon.
Episode 18
Cry Wolf
48 mins
Two boys play at being International Rescue, their small transmitters accidentally contact the real International Rescue and spark a full blown rescue. After hearing the boys' story, Scott decides to take the children to International Rescues secret location. Later the same children go out and play. This time they get into real trouble and International Rescue has to decide is the call real or are the children crying wolf again
Episode 19
Danger at Ocean Deep
49 mins
A new tanker, the Ocean Pioneer is lost under mysterious circumstances. The team at International Rescue work to understand the reasons behind the loss. They discover the tragic truth behind the loss just as the latest Ocean Pioneer begins the same fatal voyage
Episode 20
Move - And You're Dead
49 mins
Alan returns to motor racing and attracts the attention of a rival team who want access to Brains' advanced designs. He along with Grandma are left to die on an abandoned bridge with a motion sensitive bomb. International Rescue must figure out how to both rescue Alan and Grandma and to stop the bomb from destroying the bridge
Episode 21
The Duchess Assignment
49 mins
Lady Penelope discovers her friend, the Duchess of Roysten is in need of financial assistance. Penelope helps the Dutchess to loan out her prized portrait of a gazelle to a New York tycoon. However, the Duchess is kidnapped by crooks who want the painting and the money owed to her.
Episode 22
Brink of Disaster
49 mins
Lady Penelope and Jeff Tracy get asked to become involved in a scam to finance a new monorail system. Brains checks the system over and has grave concerns about the safety backups. Brains' fears appear to be confirmed when a series of unfortunate circumstances lead to Jeff, Brains and the whole project being involved in a series of life-threatening situations that only International Rescue can resolve.
Episode 23
Attack of the Alligators!
49 mins
Dr Orchard has developed a food additive called theramine. It has the ability to substantially increase the size of animals. A sample is accidentally spilled into the drain system that feeds into the local swamp. The effects are devastating on the local wildlife and the isolated laboratory comes under attack by giant alligators. This triggers International rescue to try and save those trapped inside and contain the spread of a biological disaster
Episode 24
Martian Invasion
48 mins
The Hood infiltrates a film set and engineers an accident during production that leaves two of the main actors trapped in a cave. As International Rescue responds the Hood sets about once again trying to steal footage of the organization in action.
Episode 25
The Cham-Cham
48 mins
A series of strange crashes of military aircraft come under investigation by Lady Penelope and the International Rescue organization. A strange web of intrigue is discovered involving a music act in Switzerland and some very strange non standard electronic equipment.
Episode 26
Security Hazard
49 mins
A young boy manages to stow away on Thunderbird 2 and manages to get to International Rescue's island base undetected. On the island the Tracy boys are worried when they realize how much about the day to day operations have been revealed to the boy. Jeff comes up with a novel way to get around the issue and preserve all of International Rescue's secrets.