Posted by : Ray Plumlee in (Journey Into Space - Operation Luna)
Posted on January 10th, 2010
and last modified on September 30th, 2010
Operation Luna Series Overview
Tagged Under : 1953, BBC, Captain Jet Morgan, lost episodes, Moon, Old Time Radio, Operation Luna, OTR, Outer Space, sci-fi, science fiction, Spaceship, Spaceship Luna
Journey into Space
The first Journey Into Space series was originally titled “Journey to the Moon” and was originally intended to have 12 episodes, and 5.1 million people tuned in to the first episode, but the first four episodes (which took place on Earth) didn’t prove very popular, and the audience soon shrank to less than 4 million.
However, once the rocket set off for the Moon in episode 5, the audience reaction was much more favorable. The series was extended to 18 episodes, and by the time the final episode was broadcast, 8 million people were tuning in.
In 1958, Journey to the Moon was re-recorded for the BBC Transcription Services (retitled as Operation Luna). The first four episodes of the original series were omitted, and episodes 12 and 13 were merged into a single episode.
After completion of the trilogy, it was realized that the quality of the original recordings of the first series was inadequate for repeat broadcasts or overseas sales. To this end, a new version was mounted, this time a 13 episode serial, which began on March 26, 1958. This new production was christened “Operation Luna”, omitting several plot strands, most notably those concerning Jet’s father, Sir William Morgan. This became the Transcription version.
The episodes that will be available for listening here on the Spacemen’s Luck website are indicated with a **.
Journey to the Moon (later Operation Luna) Brief plot summary
Original Episode First broadcast New Episode New broadcast
1 21 Sep 1953 – –
The year is 1965, and Jet’s father (Sir William Morgan) launches his A.24 rocket from the Rocket Research Station at Poker Flats. But something goes wrong, and the rocket heads towards Las Vegas, out of control.
2 28 Sep 1953 – –
The rocket hits Las Vegas, killing at least 35 people, and the Poker Flats site is shut down. Meanwhile, Jet is invited by Mitch to join his Operation Luna project – a rocket to reach the Moon.
3 5 Oct 1953 – –
Jet is appointed the rocket’s pilot, and he and Lemmy travel to Australia to meet Mitch at the secret Operation Luna base. On arrival, Mitch takes them to meet Smitty, the team’s doctor, but he is found dead.
4 12 Oct 1953 – –
Doc Matthews replaces Smitty (who died from a coronary), and Lemmy is to be the radio operator. Mitch spots a plane flying around the launch site, suspects spies are active, and advances the launch date.
5 19 Oct 1953 01 ** 26 Mar 1958
The rocket Luna sets off for the Moon with Jet, Doc, Mitch and Lemmy aboard. Radio contact with Earth is lost. Lemmy hears odd ‘music’ on the radio, before contact is resumed, and a tiny meteor hits Luna.
6 26 Oct 1953 02 ** 2 Apr 1958
Luna is turned round for the Moon landing, and Lemmy hears the ‘music’ again during the final approach. The crew narrate their first moonwalk by radio to Earth. While exploring a crater, Jet vanishes.
7 2 Nov 1953 03 ** 9 Apr 1958 The crew experience strange things: Jet has visions of the past and the
future; Lemmy is disturbed by the ‘music’ again; Doc sees a strange dome over a crater, and writes an odd diary entry without realizing.
8 9 Nov 1953 04 ** 16 Apr 1958
Luna loses power just before taking off – the crew are stuck on the Moon. A UFO is seen on the televiewer, and strange noises are heard. Power is suddenly restored, and the UFO has landed outside.
9 16 Nov 1953 05 ** 23 Apr 1958
Mitch is inquisitive and enters the UFO, where he is temporarily possessed by an alien intelligence. Luna takes off and orbits the Moon; on the far side, the crew encounter a fleet of UFOs, which pursues them.
10 23 Nov 1953 06 ** 30 Apr 1958
The UFOs accelerate Luna to an incredible speed, and the crew blacks out. On recovering, they find themselves out in deep space, with no sign of the Earth or Moon. In the distance, a planet is approaching.
11 30 Nov 1953 07 ** 7 May 1958
The planet looks similar to Earth, and the crew land Luna on it. After studying the stars, Jet realises that they are on Earth, but they’ve travelled thousands of years through time.
12 7 Dec 1953 08 ** 14 May 1958
Jet discovers a prehistoric stone knife near Luna, proving that they’ve traveled back in time. A UFO lands nearby, and a voice is heard over the radio: Hello Luna!
13 14 Dec 1953
Note: Original episodes 12 and 13 were merged into a single New episode Number 08.)
14 21 Dec 1953 09 ** 21 May 1958
The crew talk with ‘the voice’, which warns them that they are in great danger, and persuades them to enter the UFO, which then takes off. Eventually it lands again, in a city of domed buildings.
15 29 Dec 1953 10 ** 28 May 1958
The crew learn more about ‘the voice’ and his people (they are a peaceful, scientific race). They enter a domed building, walk down a long dark tunnel, and emerge in a huge underground city.
16 5 Jan 1954 11 ** 4 Jun 1958
‘The voice’ tells the crew about the native ‘forest creatures’ (destructive animals), and promises to help the crew get back to their own time. The crew realise the ‘forest creatures’ are prehistoric humans.
17 12 Jan 1954 12 ** 11 Jun 1958
‘The voice’ is not pleased to learn that the crew are descended from the ‘forest creatures’, but reluctantly helps them. Luna takes off and is accelerated by the UFOs; the crew blacks out.
18 19 Jan 1954 13 ** 18 Jun 1958
The crew return to the Moon in 1965, but with no memory of their adventure on prehistoric Earth. However, Doc’s diary contains a detailed account, and there’s also a prehistoric stone knife on board Luna…
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