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Tom Corbett, Space Cadet

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet was a spin off from the popular TV series of the same name and was broadcast on the ABC Radio network from January 1, 1952, to June 26, 1952. The stories followed the adventures of Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, cadets at the Space Academy, as they train to become members of the Solar Guard.

The series ran as a half-hour show twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, with many of the radio episode scripts based on the television episodes and featuring the same cast:
​
Tom Corbett: Frankie Thomas Jr.
Roger Manning: Jan Merlin.
Astro: Al Markim.
Capt. Strong: Edward Bryce.
Dr. Joan Dale: Margaret Garland.
Commander Arkwright: Carter Blake.
​
​Please note that the episode numbers given below are merely the order in which the episodes are thought to have been broadcast — they are not the actual episode numbers.
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Episode 1: Crystal Smugglers of Titan
​
The cadets investigate a smuggling ring on Titan
.

​First broadcast: 3 January 1952.
​Original Story by
Uncertain.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Peter Capell.
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Episode 2: Rocket Into Danger, Part 1

​The cadets are stranded in the Asteroid Belt whilst searching for a missing Rocket Scout.

First broadcast: 8 January 1952.
Original Story by
Jack Weinstock & Willie Gilbert.
​Cast:
Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce.
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Episode 3: Rocket Into Danger, Part 2

The missing Rocket Scout is located on Jupiter.

​First broadcast: 10 January 1952.
Original Story by
Jack Weinstock & Willie Gilbert.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce.
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Episode 4: The Space Station of Danger, Part 1

Tom and Roger are assigned to Venus Space Station, where a sabotaged space freighter crashes.
​
​First broadcast: 15 January 1952.
Original Story by
Richard Jessup.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce.
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Episode 5: The Space Station of Danger, Part 2

Tom and Astro are menaced by a Tyrannosaurus as they search for an escaped prisoner on Venus.

​First broadcast: 17 January 1952.
Original Story by
Uncertain.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce.
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Episode 6: Shanghaied On A Deep Spacer, Part 1

​Tom is press-ganged into service on a deep space freighter.

​First broadcast: 22 January 1952.
Original Story by Uncertain.
​Cast: 
Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce.
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Episode 7: Shanghaied On A Deep Spacer, Part 2

Tom leads a mutiny against the tyrannical Captain Pickering.

​First broadcast: 24 January 1952.
Original Story by Uncertain.
​Cast:
Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce.
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Episode 8: Operation Hide And Seek, Part 1

While on a training exercise near Saturn, the cadets are attacked by space pirates.
​
​First broadcast: 29 January 1952.
Original Story by
Don Hughes.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Carter Blake.
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Episode 9: Operation Hide And Seek, Part 2

​Despite Astro being injured, the cadets pursue the space pirates into the asteroid belt.

​First broadcast: 31 January 1952.
Original Story by
Don Hughes.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce.
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Episode 10: Doomed Cargo, Part 1

Captain Strong and the cadets are assigned to escort a shipment of valuable vanadium from Jupiter's moon Io.

​First broadcast: 5 February 1952.
Original Story by
Uncertain.
​Cast:  Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce​.
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Episode 11: Doomed Cargo, Part 2

​The cadets track down the vanadium thieves to a secret base on Mercury.

​First broadcast: 7 February 1952.
Original Story by Gilbert Braun
.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, James McCallion.
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Episode 12: Ice Caves of Pluto, Part 2

Astro is trapped in an ice cave on Pluto.
​Note: part 1 of this story is a missing episode.


​First broadcast: 21 February 1952.
Original Story by
Richard Jessup.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Berry Kroeger.
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Episode 13: Trial In Space, Part 1

Astro is struck down with space fever.

​First broadcast: 26 February 1952.
Original Story by
Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert.
​Cast: 
Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Margaret Garland, Jack Grimes.
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Episode 14: Trial In Space, Part 2

The cadets crash land in the Martian desert following a solar storm.

​First broadcast: 28 February 1952.
Original Story by
Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Jack Grimes.
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Episode 15: Asteroid of Danger, Part 1

Roger and Dr. Dale go missing on a research trip to the asteroid belt.

​First broadcast: 4 March 1952.
Original Story by
Gilbert Braun.
​Cast: 
 Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Margaret Garland.
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Episode 16: Asteroid of Danger, Part 2

Roger and Dr. Dale are held hostage by criminal asteroid miners.

​First broadcast: 6 March 1952.
Original Story by
Gilbert Braun.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Margaret Garland.
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Episode 17: The Giant of Mercury, Part 1

​The cadets are menaced by giant robots whilst searching for a missing scientific expedition on Mercury.

​First broadcast: 11 March 1952.
Original Story by Don Hughes
.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Vinton Hayworth.
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Episode 18: The Giant of Mercury, Part 2

​The cadets battle the criminal gang controlling the robots.

​First broadcast: 13 March 1952.
Original Story by Don Hughes
.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, James Monks, Connie Lembcke.
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Episode 19: The Atmosphere of Death, Part 1

​Tom and Roger hunt an assassin aboard a space liner.

​First broadcast: 18 March 1952.
Original Story by Elwood Hoffman
.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Jan Merlin, Peter Capell, Maurice Tarplin, Elspeth Eric.
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Episode 20: The Atmosphere of Death, Part 2

​Tom and Roger attempt to stop revolutionaries from destroying atmosphere stations on Venus.

​First broadcast: 20 March 1952.
Original Story by Elwood Hoffman
.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Jan Merlin, Peter Capell, William Keen.


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