'The Thunderbird Connection' (Story Code '45194') by Jim Carlson and Terrence McDonnell

Fourteen-year-old Prince Hassad rules the middle-eastern nation of Burdabi. However, unknown to him, his father was killed by the power-mad Air Marshal Mahmud Majid, who now plots to kill the prince so that he can stage a military takeover. When U.S. Intelligence learns of Majid’s intentions, Steve Austin is assigned to protect Hassad from the assassination attempt. Steve joins the U.S. Air Force demonstration squadron known as The Thunderbirds, which is being sent to Burdabi to celebrate a national holiday; posing as a pilot, Steve must find a way to smuggle the prince out of the country before Majid’s plan can succeed…

Lee Majors (Colonel Steve Austin), Richard Anderson (Oscar Goldman), Martin B. Brooks (Doctor Rudy Wells), Robert Loggia (Mahmud Majid), Ned Romero (Akhmed Khadduri), Susanne Reed (Jan Lawrence), Jim McMullan (ColonelPaul Miller), Barry Miller (Prince Hassad), Jeff David (Colonel Raman), Martine Beswick (Shali Giba), Joe LoPrest (Arafa), Charles Bateman (Joe Streeter), James Ingersoll (Air Controller Wilson), Than Wyenn (Omar), Rene Assa (Hakim), Jim B. Smith (Sergeant Collins), Dominic Barto (Amahl), Jim Malinda (Nasser)

Directed by Chris Nyby, Jr
Produced by Allan Balter
Executive Producer Harve Bennett
Based on the novel by Martin Caldin

TX (US): 28th November 1976

Notes:
*Featuring Colonel Steve Austin, Oscar Goldman and Doctor Rudy Wells

*This was originally transmitted as a two-hour episode, but is shown in two parts in syndication