 Gerry Anderson drew inspiration for the series ' underlying concept from the West German mining disaster known as the Wunder von Lengede ( " Miracle of Lengede " ) . In October 1963 , the collapse of a nearby dam flooded an iron mine in the municipality of Lengede , killing 29 miners and trapping 21 others underground . Lacking the means to drill an escape shaft , the authorities were forced to requisition a heavy @-@ duty bore from Bremen ; the considerable time necessary to ship this device by rail had significantly reduced the chances of a successful rescue . Recognising the advantages of swifter crisis response , Anderson conceived the idea of an " international rescue " organisation that could use supersonic aircraft to transport specialised rescue equipment quickly over long distances . 
 Gerry Anderson drew inspiration for the series <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'</mark></a>underlying concept from the West German mining disaster known as the Wunder von Lengede ( " Miracle of Lengede " ) . In October 1963 , the collapse of a nearby dam flooded an iron mine in the municipality of Lengede , killing 29 miners and trapping 21 others underground . Lacking the means to drill an escape shaft , the authorities <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> forced to requisition a heavy @-@ duty bore from Bremen ; the considerable time necessary to ship this device by rail <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> significantly reduced the chances of a successful rescue . Recognising the advantages of swifter crisis response , Anderson conceived the idea of an " international rescue " organisation <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a>could use supersonic aircraft to transport specialised rescue equipment quickly over long distances . 
Gerry Anderson drew inspiration for da series  underlying concept from tdaWest German mining disaster known as the Wunder von Lengede ( " Miracle of Lengede " ) . In October 1963 , thdaollapse of a nearby dam flooded an iron mines in the municipality of Lengede , killing 29 miners and trapping 21 others underground . Lacking thedaans to drill an escape shaft , the authorities was forced to requisition a heavy @-@ duty bore from Bremen ; the considerable time necessary to ship dis device by rail done significantly reduced the chances of a successful rescue . Recognising the advantages of swifter crisis response , Anderson conceived the daa of an " international rescue " organisation could use supersonic aircraft to transport specialised rescue equipment quickly over long distances .