IN PICTURES: Gerry Anderson - from Thunderbirds to Terrahawks

By Sue Wilkinson
Published 26th Apr 2019, 09:15 BST
Updated 26th Apr 2019, 10:24 BST
Five, four, three, two, one. Thunderbirds are go! It was produced between 1964 and 1966 using a form of electronic marionette puppetry. Thunderbirds follows the exploits of the Tracy family, headed by American ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy. Jeff is a widower with five adult sons: Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. They lived on Tracy Island. Other characters included Brains, Lady Penelope and her chauffeur Parker. There were five aircraft: Thunderbird 1: a hypersonic rocket plane used for fast response and disaster zone reconnaissance. Piloted by Scott, IR's rescue co-ordinator. Thunderbird 2: a supersonic carrier aircraft that transports rescue vehicles and equipment in detachable capsules called "pods". Piloted by Virgil. Thunderbird 3: a single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft. Piloted alternately by Alan and John, with Scott as co-pilot. Thunderbird 4: a utility submersible. Piloted by Gordon and usually launched from Thunderbird 2. Thunderbird 5: a space station that relays distress calls from around theFive, four, three, two, one. Thunderbirds are go! It was produced between 1964 and 1966 using a form of electronic marionette puppetry. Thunderbirds follows the exploits of the Tracy family, headed by American ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy. Jeff is a widower with five adult sons: Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. They lived on Tracy Island. Other characters included Brains, Lady Penelope and her chauffeur Parker. There were five aircraft: Thunderbird 1: a hypersonic rocket plane used for fast response and disaster zone reconnaissance. Piloted by Scott, IR's rescue co-ordinator. Thunderbird 2: a supersonic carrier aircraft that transports rescue vehicles and equipment in detachable capsules called "pods". Piloted by Virgil. Thunderbird 3: a single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft. Piloted alternately by Alan and John, with Scott as co-pilot. Thunderbird 4: a utility submersible. Piloted by Gordon and usually launched from Thunderbird 2. Thunderbird 5: a space station that relays distress calls from around the
Five, four, three, two, one. Thunderbirds are go! It was produced between 1964 and 1966 using a form of electronic marionette puppetry. Thunderbirds follows the exploits of the Tracy family, headed by American ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy. Jeff is a widower with five adult sons: Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. They lived on Tracy Island. Other characters included Brains, Lady Penelope and her chauffeur Parker. There were five aircraft: Thunderbird 1: a hypersonic rocket plane used for fast response and disaster zone reconnaissance. Piloted by Scott, IR's rescue co-ordinator. Thunderbird 2: a supersonic carrier aircraft that transports rescue vehicles and equipment in detachable capsules called "pods". Piloted by Virgil. Thunderbird 3: a single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft. Piloted alternately by Alan and John, with Scott as co-pilot. Thunderbird 4: a utility submersible. Piloted by Gordon and usually launched from Thunderbird 2. Thunderbird 5: a space station that relays distress calls from around the
Modern technology and techniques make you believe you can meet acid-blooded aliens or encounter 'Death Star' space ships in outer space.

Before Star Wars, Aliens or the Avengers movies was TV legend Gerry Anderson whose puppet heroes - yes you could see the strings - were are the centre of programmes ranging from Joe 90 to Terrahawks.

His real action shows included UFO and Space 1999.