The Longjohn Flap

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Longjohn Flap
Series = M*A*S*H


Caption =
Season = 1
Episode = 19
Airdate = February 18, 1973
Production = J319
Writer = Alan Alda
Director = William Wiard
Guests =
Episode list = List of "M*A*S*H" episodes
Prev = Dear Dad...Again
Next = The Army-Navy Game

"The Longjohn Flap" was episode nineteen of the first season of the TV series "M*A*S*H". It originally aired on February 18, 1973 and was the first episode of "M*A*S*H" to be written by series star Alan Alda.

In the middle of a cold snap, Hawkeye receives a pair of longjohns from home. Hawkeye gives them to an ill Trapper out of sympathy and Trapper loses them to Radar in a poker game. The longjohns proceed to pass through the hands of almost everyone in the camp: Radar gives them to the cook in exchange for a whole lamb roast with mint jelly, and the cook bribes Frank with them to avoid being demoted because of the unsanitary conditions of the kitchen. Frank gives the longjohns to an intimidating Margaret as a sign of devotion to her, before Klinger steals the longjohns from Margaret's tent. A remorseful Klinger then gives the longjohns to Father Mulcahy, who in turn gives them to Henry (but not until after he spends the night wearing them). Henry claims he will return the longjohns to their rightful owner, but gets caught putting them on by Hawkeye and Trapper. Henry rebuffs Hawkeye's demand that the longjohns be returned, but later gives them back to Hawkeye in gratitude for saving his life via an appendectomy.