Goofs

Dates jump back and forth during the series. Many early episodes featuring Trapper John and Henry are set in 1952 or 1953, while others with Col. Potter and B.J. are set in 1950 or 1951.

Although the Korean war lasted slightly over than three years (Summer of 1950 through Summer of 1953), MASH seemed to pack at least four or five Christmases throughout its run. Of specific note: Dear Dad - 1972, Dear Sis - 1978, Death Takes a Holiday - 1980, Twas the Day After Christmas - 1981.

Many changes are made to characters' names, pets, religions, ages, and relatives and whether they are alive or dead.

Throught the series, the distance between Korea and the US varies at least twice between 20,000 and 11,000 miles.

During the opening credits of Seasons 1-3, the "T" in McLean Stevenson's name does not have the stencil effect of the other letters, especially the three T's in Loretta Swit's name.

Franks Burns and Hot Lips Houlihan's affair would have been far more scandalous in the 1950s setting of the series than in the 1970s/1980s airing. Since Burns was a married man, violations of military law would have been an issue and the affair would have quickly ended or resulted in both being removed from the service.

As a rule in the service, a person is only awarded one Purple Heart (the first time they're wounded) and then oak leaf clusters for subsequent injuries. However, multiple characters throughout the series have or receive more than one purple heart.

Although done throughout the series for comic effect, Captain Pierce's constant insubordination would have landed him in several courts martial and, had he not kept his mouth shut, a disciplinary barracks or even a military prison.

Several subplots revolve around the search for AB blood. Type AB is known as the universal recipient. As long as the Rh factor is negative, any blood type will do in an emergency.

Some of the nurses are seen with long sculptured nails. Nurses who work in operating rooms don't wear those kind of nails.

Throughout the series, Douglas MacArthur is referred to as though he is still in command of the UN forces in Korea. MacArthur was relieved of command by President Truman about ten months into the war: April 11, 1951 to be exact. However, the references are often due to MacArthur's influence in military strategy, and dates don't always line up in the series.

Three different people have been named "Nurse Baker", including a single woman, a married woman and a woman of a different race (she was Black while the other two were Caucasian). However, Baker is a popular American name, and could have been shared by more than one person in the 501st. In addition, "Baker" is the second entry in the old US Navy radio alphabet. "Able," the first entry, is the name of several nurses throughout the series. "Able" and "Baker" appear to be placeholder-type names, possibly an in-joke for military viewers.

Cpl. Klinger has his own tent while all the officers share accommodation except Lt. Col. Henry Blake, Col. Potter, and Maj. Houlahan who have their own tents. However, Blake and Potter may have come to an agreement with the rest of the unit that Klinger have his own tent so he could work on his dresses.

Throughout the series, the nurses referred to as "Baker" have been different women, including one black woman, some single women, and a married one whose husband Tony spends the night with her in Houlihan's tent. However, there could just be more people named Baker than usual, and Tony's wife may have taken his last name.

Two sets of the camp were built: one in the outdoors and one within a studio. This is apparent in numerous episodes when the characters are standing "outside" in broad daylight, but each cast member has numerous shadows as a result of studio lights shining in different directions as well as an echo within the studio that is not audible on the outdoor set.

Powerlines are visible in the background of some exterior shots.

In the opening credits, the helicopters are shown flying backwards as the title of the series appears onscreen.

In Colonel Blake's office you can see a model of an UH-1 "Huey" helicopter hanging from the ceiling. However, this type first flew in 1956, years after the Korean War came to an end.

Velcro is used on the blood pressure cuffs in several episodes, but the material was patented in 1955.

Few of the primary characters wear the correct haircuts and hairdos for being members of the U.S. Army in the 1950s. As the series continued, only Colonel Potter and Major Winchester look as if they could have been a member of a 1950s Army unit.

Alan Alda can been seen in modern footwear in several episodes.

Many references are made to films and comics that were released after the Korean War.

In the first few seasons, Vietnam-like references were often made by characters: claiming their location was in "Southeast Asia" (when they are in northeastern Asia) and searching for missing colleagues in "the jungle" as there are no jungle regions in Korea except on Jeju Island and a narrow strip toward the south.

The 4077th has a directional signpost. The signs for Tokyo, Boston, and San Francisco, which are all east of Korea, are pointing in different directions. There are also two signs for Seoul which point in opposite directions.

Throughout the series, Margaret has very long fingernails. As both a nurse and a Regular US Army officer who's a sticker for the rules, there's no way her nails would be so UN-regulation. Neither nurses nor Army officers have long fingernails.

In the Army, caps (cover) are always worn outdoors and never worn indoors.

Radar's left hand is clearly deformed,although the actor Gary Burghoff hides it throughout the series.

Since it would affect his ability to hold and shoot a rifle, he would not have been inducted , nor been able to serve, in the US Army.

On various occasions, the War Department is mentioned by various characters. This is in error as the War Department was renamed the Department of the Army in 1947. When referring to directives from Washington D.C., they should use that title or it's parent organization, the Department of Defense.

There are various episodes with Korean nationals such as farmers, villagers. These Koreans speak English. It is highly unlikely that the native Koreans would speak or understand any English especially in small villages away from a city.