Thunderbirds (1965–1966): Season 1, Episode 12 - Operation Crash-Dive - full transcript

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Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

'Thunderbirds are go!'

London Tower to Fireflash
3. You're clear to go.

That's certainly some aircraft.

Yes, sir.

London Tower, this is Fireflash.

Height 15,000 feet.
Climbing to 150,000 feet.



'Permission to leave
London Control area.'

You are clear to
leave Control area.

Report your position
as you cross the coast.

'Thank you,
London. Will do. Out.'

There she goes,
through the sound barrier.

International Air Minister, Chief
Controller London Airport here.

Fireflash 3 has taken
off with no mishaps

and crossed the coast
a few minutes ago.

'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!'

'This is Fireflash 3. Position
T-S-7-5-7 stroke A-R-4-3-6.'

'Losing height rapidly...'

Fireflash 3, this is London
Control. Can you hear me?

Rescue Station,
mayday from Fireflash 3.

Last position T-S-7-5-7
stroke A-R-4-3-6.



Start search
operation immediately!

'Air Sea Rescue,
Operation Seahawk.'

'Places immediately.'

Naval Rescue Headquarters.

Please divert all ships nearest
to T-S-7-5-7 stroke A-R-4-3-6

to search the area. Search
aircraft launched, sir. Good.

Approaching rescue area.
Commence Operation Seahawk.

'London Tower, Operation
Seahawk search negative.'

Roger, Seahawk. Return to base.

Both aircraft and ship
reports search negative, sir.

Fireflash 3 has
just disappeared.

It's fantastic. All right,
cancel Operation Seahawk.

It just is not good enough.

That aircraft cost not only
65m but 600 lives as well.

As International Air Minister,
I have a duty to the public

and I am ordering all
Fireflashes grounded immediately.

Is that clear?
Yes, sir. Perfectly.

Furthermore, I want
the whole project tested

in the lab and on the aircraft.

But with all due respect, sir,

we already have carried out
exhaustive tests on Fireflash.

Then you will redo them
and re-check the whole works.

Is that understood? Yes, sir.

No blame is being
attached to anyone.

But there is a fault and that
fault has to be eliminated.

All Fireflashes are to be grounded
until they are certified airworthy.

This morning, the plane
Fireflash disappeared

on its flight to San Francisco.
Earlier, on its maiden flight,

the Fireflash had a bomb
fixed to its undercarriage

and it was only due
to International Rescue

that the plane and its
passengers were saved.

This time there
were no survivors.

All Fireflashes have been
grounded pending tests.

Sabotage again? I doubt it.

With the precautions they
take now, sabotage is unlikely.

But why should an aircraft
like that suddenly disappear?

Metal fatigue? I guess
it could be 101 things.

We'd better watch
these test flights closely.

Despite everything, I still
think it's a great aircraft.

International Rescue
Space Station,

this is Jeff Tracy.
Go ahead, Father.

I want you to monitor all
transmissions on the Fireflash tests.

Right, Father. By the way,
I've been checking on the crash.

According to our
automatic fixer,

the Fireflash crew radioed a wrong
position before they disappeared.

They were more than 50
miles out. That's strange.

Anyway, Alan,
keep listening. 'FAB.'

'Scott, Virgil, Gordon?'
Yes, Father, we're all here.

I want you boys all to standby.

Further tests are being carried out
on Fireflash. It could mean trouble.

Hello, Patterson.
How's it going?

Well, we've
eliminated metal fatigue

and now we're waiting the
results of the radiation tests.

Ah, that could be it now.

Well, all tests show the
Fireflash to be completely OK.

So it's over to you now.

You will fly the same
course as Fireflash 3.

The plane has been
checked by the ground crew

and found in perfect order. Keep
in constant touch with Control.

What height do we
fly? 150,000 feet.

Any other questions? No, sir.

Good. Now, I can't
emphasise enough

how important it is to keep
in constant touch with Control.

Good luck.

Fireflash to Control. Over.

'Loud and clear, Fireflash.'

Control, I'm about to start
final ground tests.'Roger.'

Your job is to maintain
continuous contact with Fireflash

until she arrives at
San Francisco.Sir.

'Fireflash to Tower.
Pre-flight tests completed.'

Takeoff clearance?
'Fireflash, you're free to go.'

Full power.

Fireflash to Tower.
Airborne at 2,500 feet.

Climbing to 150,000 feet.
About to go through sound barrier.

'Fireflash to London Tower.'

'We're crossing the coast at
L-S-7-4-9 stroke A-P-4-2-8.'

That's odd. The automatic fixer
puts them 20 miles northwest of there.

'Everything OK?'Yes,
sir, everything seems fine.

'We're about 50 miles
from the crash area.'

Thank you. Take a position
check when you reach the area.

'Will do, London.'

Switching to
automatic flight plan.

So far, so good.

Better prepare to
check our position.

Elevator Power Unit negative.

London Control,
this is Fireflash.

We're having trouble
with our EPU...

'..gyro stabiliser
showing fault.'

Fireflash is in trouble, sir,
but I can't read their messages.

'Fireflash to London. Also
having trouble with our gyros.'

Fireflash, please repeat.

'..with gyro stabiliser...'

Our position is T-S-7-4-9
stroke A-P-4-2-8.

Just as we feared. It's the
same trouble in the same position.

Emergency stations! The
instruments have gone haywire

and the controls
are not reacting.

Go ahead, Alan.
Fireflash, Father -

they've sent out a mayday,

but the signal was too
weak for London to receive.

I can only just hear it myself.
They've given their position,

but I make them 180
miles northwest of it.

OK, listen out and see if
you can get another fix.F.A.B.

Good shooting.
'This is it, boys.'

'Fireflash is in difficulties.'

'Come up and I'll fill
you in on the details.'

Here we go.

Hey, Bob, help me.

It's jammed!

Quick! We're going under!

Come on! It's no
good. She's jammed.

OK, Scott, you
take Thunderbird 1

and establish a base on the
coastline nearest the crash area.

Then scan the
area electronically.

Yes, Father.

Virgil, take Gordon
and Brains with you,

and you'll need
Thunderbird 4.Right, Father.

Keep in touch, Scott. Will do.

Saints preserve us, will
you take a look at that!

'This is International Rescue.
Give me a hand with my equipment?'

We can put in the
barn over there.

International... Rescue?

Oh, sure. But it's the
cow's that are in it.

Then they'll just
have to move over.

Approaching danger zone.

Uh... Virgil, get London Control

to send the diagrams of Fireflash's
electronics. I may need them.

By radio photograph?
Yeah. OK, Brains.

Quiet, Kathleen!

Now uh... the trouble
could be... here somewhere.

Ah. I-I-I think I've got it.

No, I-I haven't got it.

Nothing. There's not a thing
floating in the whole area.

Hmm. Yeah, I-I-I've got it!

Now, if the gyro shaft's here,

it could've damaged the main
hydraulic power supply to the flaps.

Yeah, that would cause
the aircraft to crash.

Do you think it possible that
they crash-landed on the sea?

Well, it's possible. It would
depend on the skill of the crew.

Well, if they had the
best crew available...

If they'd crash-landed
on the sea,

we would've received a distress
call from their lifeboat. Unless...

Unless they were
trapped in the cabin.

And if the hydraulic
system jammed,

the automatic escape
hatches would not operate.

Do you realise what
this could mean?!

I-I realise all right.

That they could be alive -

trapped in the flight deck
a-a-at the bottom of the sea.

London Control, this is
Fireflash. Can you hear me?

Oh, it's no good,
they can't hear us -

not even with the new thorium-beam
transmitter. We've had it.

'Thunderbird 2
from Mobile Control.'

'Have searched complete
area. Results - negative.'

'Can see you approaching
danger zone.' F.A.B.

Launching Thunderbird 4.

We think crew may be
trapped in aircraft on seabed.

Thunderbird 2 from Thunderbird
4. Commencing launch.

Mobile Control
from Thunderbird 4.

I need a course to take me
to Fireflash crash position.

Thunderbird 4 for Mobile Control.
Steer 107 degrees magnetic.

Steering 107 magnetic, Scott.

'OK, Gordon, you're
approaching crash area.'

'Commence search.'
Thunderbird 4, F.A.B.

Look!

Quick, put on all
the lights you can!

Hey, say, that
looked like a light.

Keep flashing!

It fused.

Brains, I've found her,
and she's in one piece.

Can't see any signs of life yet.

'Oh, nice work, Gordon.
Standby one moment.'

Now, um... yeah,
now, let me see.

Uh... uh... the engines -

Could they still
be alive, Brains?

Please, please, Virgil.

Uh... Gordon, cut off the engines
on the tail plane with a laser beam

and Fireflash will
float to the surface.

Then we can rescue the
crew. If they're still alive.

Bob, Bob! There's a
frogman. They've found us!

Virgil, this is Gordon.
They're alive - I can see them!

I'm gonna send them a
message on the Light Type.

Let's hope it works.

Oh... I can hardly breathe.

So hot.

OK, Gordon, she's surfaced!

'F.A.B. Coming
up alongside her.'

What's that...?
What's that smell?

What smell?

Can't breathe!

Can't... breathe!

We're on fire! I'll
get the extinguisher.

Are you crazy? We
can hardly breathe now!

We've got to do something
or we'll burn to death!

OK, you guys, as soon as the
rescue capsule arrives, climb aboard!

Come on!

Thunderbird 2
from Thunderbird 4.

The co-pilot's
aboard the capsule.

The pilot should be aboard
in a couple of seconds.

'Thunderbird 2, F.A.B.'

'Are you aboard the rescue
capsule? Sing out if you are.'

'I can hear you over the radio.'

OK, all aboard.

'Right, hold tight!'

Thunderbird 2 to Mobile
Control and Thunderbird 4.

Am clearing area. Looks like
she's going up any second.

And so the test crew
of Fireflash are safe.

Once again, International
Rescue saved the day.

We understand
from the Air Ministry

that a report radioed to London by
the International Rescue eggheads

may provide an answer
to the technical fault

which has bugged the Fireflash
aircraft in these past few weeks.

Boys, I'd like to add my thanks.

Well done, all of you.

Say, where's Scott? He
flew in a few minutes ago.

His takeoff from England
was delayed for some reason.

Hey, sorry I'm late, folks. I had
to milk the cows before I took off.

All right, go ahead, Alan.

I've been listening to
bulletins from London,

and according to them,

there's a top meeting about
the Fireflash going on right now.

EPU failure can
originate only in the wing.

The hydraulic faults point
to a lack of sufficient space

for the master in
the original design.

Supertension due to torsion
simply wouldn't happen.

Now, gentlemen, can I
have your attention, please?

Thank you. It now
seems quite certain

that the fault in Fireflash has
been traced to the hydraulic system.

But what causes the fault
remains to be discovered.

So far, we have developed
three different theories,

all of which place the
trouble in the starboard wing.

I propose that, for the present,
we pursue these three theories.

I can't see what else we can do.

I can't see what else we can do.
The cause of the Fireflash disasters

can only be found while
the aircraft is in flight.

Gee, if only they'd
let us fly one of them.

With Thunderbird 2
alongside to help if need be.

How about that,
Father? Right, it's settled.

We must contact London straight
away. Tin-Tin? Yes, Mr Tracy?

Take a letter. I think it's time
for International Rescue to act.

It's from International Rescue.

They want to test Fireflash
over the same route.

Well, if anyone can
find the fault, they can.

They are the most
experienced in the business.

We'd better arrange for
Captain Hanson to fly with them.

He knows them
from the first flight

when they saved his life.
Get him over here, will you?

Very good, sir.
Then contact security.

This whole operation
is to be Top Secret.

No-one is to fly within 100
miles of the test flight path.

At the airport, there is to
be 600 yards' clearance

for the International
Rescue craft.OK.

Erm... where was
the letter posted, sir?

It maybe will tell us where
International Rescue are based.

Posted at London Airport.

They never miss
a trick, do they, sir?

I've been in touch
with the airport.

Preparations for Virgil's
arrival seem to be underway.

Thank you, Alan. Virgil is
going to reach London at noon.

What form will the
rescue operation take?

Well, it's difficult to
say at present, Alan.

But Virgil is loaded up with
Pod 4, the diving escape bell

and the laser beam cutter. Anyway,
keep in touch with London Control

in case they want any help
with procedure. Will do, Father.

Thunderbird 2 should be crossing
the British coast any moment.

Crossing the coast now.

Right, best prepare for
touch down now, fellas.

International Rescue
crossing the coast now, sir.

Right, get the Fireflash lined up
at the end of runway 2-7. Yes, sir.

Fireflash from Control Tower.
Fireflash from Control Tower.

Taxi out to end of runway 2-7
and await further instructions.

'Yes, sir.'

Fireflash in position,
sir, on runway 2-7.

Good. Instruct all personnel, with
the exception of Captain Hanson,

to vacate the
aircraft. Very good, sir.

Where are International Rescue
now? ETA at six minutes, sir.

Good. Seal the
airport. Yes, sir.

Security is fully operational,
sir.Right. What time is it?

Three minutes to 12:00,
sir, and no sign of them.

Don't worry, they'll
get here on time.

International Rescue.

International Rescue
approaching on flight path 2-9, sir.

London Airport from
International Rescue.

'Come in, International
Rescue. Loud and clear.'

We're approaching
you along flight path 2-9.

Permission to land.

International Rescue
from London Airport.

You are clear to land.
Do you require runway?

'No, London, will
not require runway.'

Roger, International Rescue.
London Airport has been sealed.

'Fireflash standing by
at the end of runway 2-7.'

Thank you, London. OK, Virgil,
everything's been laid on for us.

Losing height now.

12 o'clock, sir.

Here she comes.
Boy, what timing!

You've got to hand
it to those fellas.

Thunderbird 2 has touched
down at London, Father.

'Right, now hear this, Alan.'

I want you to organise and
maintain constant contact

between yourself,
Thunderbird 2 and the Fireflash.

'Is that clear?' Yes, father.

Nothing's got to go
wrong this time. Nothing.

OK, Father. Scott and Fireflash
are with Captain Hanson now.

Can you hear us on this
frequency, Alan? Virgil?

Hearing you strength
5, Scott. Me, too, Scott.

Father's instructed me to maintain
contact throughout the test flight.

OK, Alan, we're
switching to open contact.

Right, got it. Thank you,
Fireflash, and good luck.

London Control from
International Rescue.

'We are ready to
start testing Fireflash.'

All right, International
Rescue, you're clear to take off.

All right, Scott, Control has
given us clearance. Thanks, Alan.

Well, Captain, good of
you to help us out like this.

Listen, Tracy, if anyone
should be grateful, it's me.

When Fireflash was in trouble on
its maiden flight, you saved my life.

It's a real privilege to be able
to pay you guys back this way.

So long, Scott.

Through the sound barrier.

Standby to level out.

Scott has made a good
takeoff, Father, in the Fireflash.

Right, Alan. Glad to hear
they're making it out OK

with the unfamiliar
controls. How about Virgil?

He's just been given
clearance by London Control.

I'm at 150,000 feet, on course.

How are you doing,
Virgil? OK, Scott.

I'll soon catch you
up, don't worry.

And Alan, I want
a position check.

'OK, Scott, give
me your present fix.'

'We are at L-S-7-4-9
stroke A-P-4-2-8.'

No, Scott, your
reading is wrong.

'You are 20 miles
northwest of that point.'

20 miles? Gee, that's
some miscalculation.

Yeah, those controls
are sure way off.

All right, Alan, thanks.
You'd better tell Virgil.

Yeah, will do.

We ought to be getting the
first reports from Fireflash soon.

Ah, that might be them now.

Go ahead, Fireflash. We've found a
fault in the automatic locater, London.

'Fireflash was giving
a wrong position.'

Faulty locator? Well,
that could explain a lot.

Furthermore, we're
having trouble with a trim.

It looks as if the
elevator power unit...

Fireflash? Come in, Fireflash.

They've gone dead,
sir. It's the same pattern.

The same pattern. First the
EPU and then the radio goes.

London from Fireflash.
London from Fireflash.

Come in, London.

It's no use, the radio's dead.

We've lost contact with them.
Oh, no, we haven't - not altogether.

Alan, Virgil, do you read me?

Sure do, Scott. Loud and clear.

The Fireflash radio
circuit is nonfunctional.

We're gonna have to
relay messages to London

via Alan in the Space Station.

I gather it's pretty
desperate. Is that right?

'Yeah - the EPU is negative.'

How about the standby?
Well, that's gone, too.

It looks as if Fireflash is
taking one colossal crash-dive

into the Atlantic Ocean. I
just can't get the nose up.

I've been through to London and
explained the EPU and radio failures.

They say you should bail
out and let them pick you up.

Bail out? If we do that we'll
never know what the fault was.

We'll be back to square one.

OK, it looks like we're gonna have
to try that scheme we discussed.

How long have we got
till Fireflash hits the water?

Well, judging by the
present rate of descent,

I'd say we've got
about 15 minutes.

Did you get that?
We've got 15 minutes.

Right, be seeing you... I hope.

OK, Scott, hold the
Fireflash dead steady.

We'll adjust it from this end.

It's gonna be tricky,
but we can do it safely

provided we don't
get turbulence.

All right, Virgil.
Is Gordon ready?

'All set, Gordon?'
Yeah, ready to go.

All right, open the hatch.

Hey, that's funny, I...
thought I saw someone.

What did you say,
Gordon? 'Um... nothing.'

'I'm just seeing
things, that's all.'

Right, standby to enter wing.

Father, Gordon has been
winched into the starboard wing

and is checking the place out.
How long is that going to take?

That depends on what he
finds when he gets in there.

Where should I start, then?
The EPU should be situated

near the parometer cylinders.

Yeah, I think I can see them.

'I'm gonna try and
get a little closer.'

What's the height now?

40,000 feet. We've got
less than four minutes.

Three minutes.

Hey, how did that happen?

These wires have
been tampered with.

'The leads into the
EPU have been cut!'

They've been cut?!

Hey, what the blazes was that?

It sounded like a
shot. It couldn't be!

All right, International Rescue,
I'm ready for you. Come on out.

Look, I don't know
what your game is,

but there's some pretty vital
pieces of equipment round here

that we don't wanna
smash. Who are you kidding?

This aircraft is finished
and you know it.

In just a couple
of minutes more,

it's gonna make a
big splash in the ocean

and then disappear
like all the others.

One-and-a-half minutes.
What is going on in the wing?!

I shouldn't jump if I were you,

your parachute will never
open in time. Ah, yeah?

Gordon, what's going on?

Answer, please! Come in, Gordon!

Look, Scott, there's
no time to explain.

We've had an uninvited guest
lousing up the works in here.

But I guess he won't
give any more trouble.

Gordon, we've got 30 seconds
left before we hit the water.

It's too late to bail out.
Can you fix the EPU?

No, Scott, I couldn't
remake the join in time.

It would take too long!

Ten seconds, Tracy.

Thanks to International Rescue,

the Fireflash run from
London to San Francisco

is to be resumed next week.
Police authorities in London

have completed their investigations
into the sabotage of the aircraft

and state that the efforts
of International Rescue

have led to the unmasking of the
gang Benton Aircraft Espionage.

Particular stress
was laid on the -

Oh, for Pete's sake! Just
at the most interesting part!

Oh, dear, I am sorry.

Tin-Tin and I were just putting
the apple pies in the oven

and the darn fuse blew.

Oh, I'm sure Gordon will
soon fix that, Grandma.

Yeah, remember what you said
after the Fireflash episode, Gordon?

Just like fixing
a fuse, you said.

Here I go again!