Blogs

Where does the inspiration behind Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds really come from and why has it nothing to do with an airfield in Arizona? By Sean Feast For fans of Gerry Anderson’s iconic series Thunderbirds, it’s long been accepted that the name was somehow a tribute to his older brother, Lionel, a wartime RAF pilot who died in service during the Second World War. It’s often claimed, specifically, that the name comes from ‘Thunderbird Field’ — an American airbase in Arizona where Lionel trained. But while the emotional link between Thunderbirds and Lionel is absolutely real, the idea that the show...