John Tracy
John Tracy is one of Jeff Tracy’s five sons. He is International Rescue’s Space Monitor aboard Thunderbird Five. He lives on Tracy Island when not in space. John was voiced by actor Ray Barrett, who also voiced the Hood.
Here is a table of Canon Foundry facts about John Tracy:
From the TV Series and the Movies (Thunderbirds Are Go and Thunderbird 6):
| The Canon Fact | The Source |
|---|---|
| Blond hair, blue eyes. | Multiple episodes, opening credits |
| Does one-month rotation with Alan on Thunderbird Five | Comment from Alan in "The Uninvited" and "City of Fire" |
| Alternates with Alan as pilot of Thunderbird Three. | In the episode "Danger at Ocean Deep," Alan and Brains use TB3 to bring Alan to change shifts with John on TB5. Upon John and Brains boarding TB3 to head for home, John says, "Get ready for blast-off" to Brains, which is what Alan says when he's ready to launch TB3. |
| John's bedroom on Thunderbird Five is just off the control room. A globe can be seen on his bedside table, and some sort of certificate on the wall behind the bed. | Seen in the episode "City of Fire" |
| Smokes cigarettes (though we don't know how frequently) | Seen in the final scene of "City of Fire" |
| Calls Jeff 'Dad' | Said in "Attack of the Alligators" |
| Also calls Jeff 'Father' | Said in "Trapped in the Sky" and other various episodes |
| Sometimes gets lonely on Thunderbird Five and is happy to go home | In the episode "City of Fire" John says this |
| Tends toward bossing Virgil around | Seen in the episode "Danger at Ocean Deep" while en route to the Danger Zone |
| Goes toe-to-toe with Scott when the need arises | Seen in the 'discussion' John and Scott are having at the end of "Danger at Ocean Deep" |
| Doesn't always get to be home for Christmas | John remained aboard Thunderbird Five on Christmas Day in the episode "Give or Take a Million" |
| Other Sources: | |
| The Canon Fact | The Source |
| JOHN TRACY - Controller of the Space Station. Named after John Herschel Glenn Jnr. Age - 25. | Thunderbirds Information Sheet |
| Usually on duty in Thunderbird Five; has the patience of Job. | Click Here For Source |
| Aged 25. Editor’s note: as TV21 was set out as a newspaper, this implies that this is John’s age at this date (1st Oct 2066). If we use the birth date of 8th Oct then he has not yet had his birthday in this year and so was this age when IR started with a birth year of 2041. | Fennell, Alan, Editor, October, 2066 (1966), #89, TV Century 21. p. 6 |
| Named after John Herschel Glenn Jnr., the 20th century astronaut | Fennell, Alan, Editor, October, 2066 (1966), #89, TV Century 21. p. 6 |
| Hobbies athletics and reading | Fennell, Alan, Editor, October, 2066 (1966), #89, TV Century 21. p. 6 |
| 22 years old, John is the quietest and most intellectual of the boys, the dreamer of the Tracy family. | (1966), Thunderbirds Annual. City Magazines Ltd. p. 11 |
| An electronics expert with a degree in laser communication. Studied at Harvard University, then went on to train as an astronaut. | (1966), Thunderbirds Annual. City Magazines Ltd. p. 11 |
| His main hobby is astronomy and he has published four textbooks on the subject. Discovered and named the Tracy quasar. | (1966), Thunderbirds Annual. City Magazines Ltd. p. 11 |
| Slighter in build than his brothers but very lithe and graceful. Won awards for athletics at school. | (1966), Thunderbirds Annual. City Magazines Ltd. p. 11 |
| John, born October 8th, age 35 (sic) | Thunderbirds Are Go Exhibitors' Campaign Book 1966; also in Thunderbird Six Press facts sheet, 1967. Click Here to View |
| John is a stickler for routine | Theydon, John (1966), Thunderbirds. Titan. p. 7. |
| The speed of John’s writing indicates his energetic personality; a man of action who likes to get things done rather than sit around talking; he can sometimes get carried away by his own enthusiasm. Would have made a good tycoon. Tends to speak his mind honestly and plainly and is a man whose definite opinions are only altered by personal experience. | (1967), Lady Penelope Annual. 'Graphology' feature. |
| A keen athlete, as this is a way of getting rid of his excess energy. | (1967), Lady Penelope Annual. 'Graphology' feature. |
| Enjoys novels about courage and adventure. | (1967), Lady Penelope Annual. 'Graphology' feature. |
| Very affectionate and popular with those who meet him. | (1967), Lady Penelope Annual. 'Graphology' feature. |
| Lists John as second youngest | Thunderbirds' holiday special 1971 p.3. Click Here to View |
| Born 8th October 2001, now 25 years old. | de Klerk, Theo, “Thunderbirds All Series Guide,” Supermarionation is Go #10, Spring 1984. |
| Studied electronics at Harvard University, specialising in laser communications, then went on to train as an astronaut. | de Klerk, Theo, “Thunderbirds All Series Guide,” Supermarionation is Go #10, Spring 1984. |
| Patient but rather dour. | de Klerk, Theo, “Thunderbirds All Series Guide,” Supermarionation is Go #10, Spring 1984. |
| The quiet and thoughtful member of the family; "Shy and introverted for the most part, he is happy to spend his tours of duty alone on the space satellite." | Peel, John (1988) Supermarionation: the Magical World of Gerry Anderson. "The Tracys: John Tracy," Los Angeles, California; Schuster and Schuster |
| A radio ham from his youth, John helped in the design and construction of Thunderbird Five. | Peel, John (1988) Supermarionation: the Magical World of Gerry Anderson. "The Tracys: John Tracy," Los Angeles, California; Schuster and Schuster |
| Communications is his first love, and his degree is in this subject. | Peel, John (1988) Supermarionation: the Magical World of Gerry Anderson. "The Tracys: John Tracy," Los Angeles, California; Schuster and Schuster |
| His second love is astronomy and he had up-to-date equipment installed in the space station so he could pursue his studies. He has made several discoveries and written four books on the subject which have all sold well. | Peel, John (1988) Supermarionation: the Magical World of Gerry Anderson. "The Tracys: John Tracy," Los Angeles, California; Schuster and Schuster |
| Replaces Alan as pilot of Thunderibrd Three when not working in Thunderbird Five. Will accompany Virgil on missions in Thunderbird Two from time to time. | Peel, John (1988) Supermarionation: the Magical World of Gerry Anderson. "The Tracys: John Tracy," Los Angeles, California; Schuster and Schuster |
| Date of birth 28th Oct 2001. | Marriott, John (1992), Thunderbirds Are Go!. Boxtree Limited. p.21. |
| Discovered a quasar system during his astronomical observations on Thunderbird Five. | Marriott, John (1992), Thunderbirds Are Go!. Boxtree Limited. p.21. |
| Date of birth 28th Oct, no year given. | (1992), The Official Thunderbirds Annual. Grandreams, Ltd./ITC Entertainment Group. p. 48. ISBN 0-86227-953-4. |
| Discovered the Tracy quasar system. | (1992), The Official Thunderbirds Annual. Grandreams, Ltd./ITC Entertainment Group. p. 48. ISBN 0-86227-953-4. |
| Birthday 8th October (year not given), 25 years old. | Fennell, Alan, Thunderbirds: The Comic #5, 14th December, 1991, Fleetway Editions, Ltd., ITC Entertainment Group, Ltd. |
| Born Oct 2001 (exact date not given) | Fennell, Alan, "The Complete Thunderbirds Story”, (part 11) Thunderbirds: The Comic #45, June 26 - July 9, 1993, Fleetway Editions, Ltd., ITC Entertainment Group, Ltd. p.11 |
| Nicknamed ’The dreamer’ by his brothers. John’s thesis at Harvard was on contact with other planets, and matter at the edge of the universe. During this time he located a previously undiscovered quasar which was named the Tracy Quasar. | Fennell, Alan, "The Complete Thunderbirds Story (part 20),” Thunderbirds: The Comic #54, 30 October - 12 November, 1993, Fleetway Editions, Ltd., ITC Entertainment Group, Ltd. p. 12. |
| John did his astronaut training at Tracy College, Kansas. | Fennell, Alan, "The Complete Thunderbirds Story (part 20),” Thunderbirds: The Comic #54, 30 October - 12 November, 1993, Fleetway Editions, Ltd., ITC Entertainment Group, Ltd. p. 12. |
| Born 8th Oct 2040. | Bentley, Chris (2000), The Complete Book of Thunderbirds. Carlton Books, Ltd.. p. 57. ISBN 1-84222-092-6. |
| Born 8th Oct 2040. | Denham, Sam (2000), Thunderbirds Top Secret Annual 2001, 'Biography,' Carlton Books Ltd. p. 19. ISBN 1842220942. |
| The first of Jeff’s sons to follow him into space. | Denham, Sam (2000), Thunderbirds Top Secret Annual 2001, 'Biography,' Carlton Books Ltd. p. 19. ISBN 1842220942. |
| A true intellectual – a man of more thought than deed. | Olivier, Jenny (2001), Lady Penelope's Secrets. Carlton Books Limited. p. 90-91. |
| Gets his grace and poise from his mother. | Olivier, Jenny (2001), Lady Penelope's Secrets. Carlton Books Limited. p. 90-91. |
| Controller of the space station, named after John Herschel Glenn Jnr. Age 25 | The Thunderbirds Information Sheet. This document provides definitive proof of the official birth order of the Tracy boys. It was mailed directly from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's office to fans who wrote in requesting information about International Rescue. The document we have (see menu to the left, "TB Info Sheet"): a picture of it was sent originally to Peter Singleton on April 4, 1966. It was signed by Una, Gerry Anderson's secretary, on his behalf. Pete Singleton shared it with Stephen La Riviere (TB 1965), who shared it with TICipedia webmistress Jaimi Sorrell on June 10, 2017 (and later publicly as well on the TB 1965 Facebook page). |
| Profile of John, age 25 | Dutch Source: Albert Heijn Margarine leaflets 1967 |
Editor’s Note: There is some debate as to where in the birth order John fits in. Stay tuned to future updates of TICipedia when this particular aspect of canon will be separately addressed!