M*A*S*H

Potter's Retirement - S6-E22

Factual error: When Radar, Hawkeye, and BJ find the letter from cpl. Benson to I Corps, Radar says that cpl. Benson's been here since June. Later in the episode when col. Potter, Radar, Hawkeye and BJ confront Benson, Benson says he is there on orders of a colonel who did not get treated quickly enough. Potter says he remembers this colonel was there a couple of months back. BUT, this episode of M*A*S*H takes place during Kentucky Derby Day. The Kentucky Derby has always been held the first Saturday in May. So, if Benson has only been at the 4077th for two months, and he arrived in June, then this episode should be taking place in August, not May.

Potter's Retirement - S6-E22

Continuity mistake: When BJ and Hawkeye are trying to find out who snitched on Potter, they search Charles' belongings back at The Swamp. BJ wraps Charles' white scarf around his neck. Once Charles returns to his tent, the scarf changes positions several times.

Sometimes You Hear the Bullet - S1-E17

Henry Blake: All I know is what they taught me at command school. There are certain rules about a war, and rule number one is that young men die. And rule number two is that doctors can't change rule number one.

More quotes from M*A*S*H

Trivia: Gary Burghoff's left hand was slightly deformed, and he often hid it behind his clipboard during filming.

More trivia for M*A*S*H

Dear Dad - S1-E12

Question: A number of times it is mentioned that the outfit is unarmed, yet several times, Frank has a rifle, or a pistol, and once Klinger had a grenade, and the guards and Klinger, while on sentry duty, has a rifle. Was this standard, or is this a mistake?

Answer: Even an Army field hospital would have SOME weapons for self-defense if the enemy attacked. What's meant is that it's not a combat outfit, and therefore wouldn't have enough weapons to actually attack anyone. (It's also mentioned a few times that the Officer of the Watch is supposed to carry a pistol at all times, but Hawkeye refuses to do it when he's in charge and Colonels Blake and Potter don't enforce the rule).

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: The Geneva Convention allows even doctors to carry a sidearm to be used in their self defense or the defense of their patients, however it is rare to do so.

stiiggy

Answer: As an old medical unit staffer, my experience is that med units have combat units assigned to defend them. Usually it was marines.

Answer: My old doctor (now deceased) served in Korea during the War. He was required to carry a sidearm anytime he was not in the hospital.

More questions & answers from M*A*S*H

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.