 The series ' title was derived from a letter written by Gerry 's brother , Lionel , while he had been serving overseas as an RAF flight sergeant during World War II . While stationed in Arizona , Lionel had made reference to Thunderbird Field , a nearby United States Army Air Forces base . Drawn to the " punchiness " of " Thunderbirds " , Anderson dropped his working title of " International Rescue " and renamed both the series and IR 's rescue vehicles , which had previously been designated Rescues 1 to 5 . His inspiration for the launch sequences of Thunderbirds 1 , 2 and 3 originated from contemporary United States Air Force launch procedure : Anderson had learnt how the Strategic Air Command would keep its pilots on permanent standby , seated in the cockpits of their aircraft and ready for take @-@ off at a moment 's notice . 
 The series <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'</mark></a>title was derived from a letter written by Gerry <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>brother , Lionel , while he had been serving overseas as an RAF flight sergeant during World War II . While stationed in Arizona , Lionel <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> made reference to Thunderbird Field , a nearby United States Army Air Forces base . Drawn to the " punchiness " of " Thunderbirds " , Anderson dropped his working title of " International Rescue " and renamed both the series and IR <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>rescue vehicles , which <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> previously been designated Rescues 1 to 5 . His inspiration for the launch sequences of Thunderbirds 1 , 2 and 3 originated from contemporary United States Air Force launch procedure : Anderson <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> learnt how the Strategic Air Command would keep its pilots on permanent standby , seated in the cockpits of their aircraft and ready for take @-@ off at a moment <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>notice . 
Da series  title was derived from a letter written by Gerry  homeboy , Lionel , while he had been serving overseas as an RAF flight sergeant during World War II . While stationed in Arizona , Lionel done made reference to Thunderbird Field , a nearby United States Army Air Forces base . Drawn to tda" punchiness " of " Thunderbirds " , Anderson dropped his working title of " International Rescue " and renamed both thdaeries and IR  rescue vehicles , which done previously been designated Rescues 1 to 5 . His inspiration fa the launch sequences of Thunderbirds 1 , 2 and 3 originated from contemporary United States Air Force launch procedure : Anderson done learnt how thedarategic Air Command would keep its pilots on permanent standby , seated in the dakpits of their aircraft and ready for take @-@ offf at a moment  notice .