Factual error: The Korean War ended in July 1953. In the early Fifties, the US Army was extremely conservative, and sexual or romantic relationships between servicemen and women were strictly forbidden. Frank Burns and Margaret Houlihan have an affair so poorly concealed that his wife, half the world away in the States, finds out about it and demands a divorce. Both Burns and Houlihan would be court-martialled and dishonourably discharged immediately after their first sexual encounter.
Suggested correction: While this is legally true, and what *should* happen in a military unit, it fits with the looser standards of the show and - based at least on the original novel - of military medicine near the front line and far from home, where results and good, quick surgery were more important than the UCMJ.
The "looser standards" of the show do not change reality. M*A*S*H is riddled with anachronisms, applying the standards and norms of the Seventies to Korea in the early Fifties. Everything from the men's hairstyles, the sloppy lack of military discipline, the heavy makeup worn by The Nurses, comic books, films and music from the late Fifties and even the Sixties, the list is endless. In 1953, the blatantly overt sexual relationship between Burns and Houlihan would have been stamped on.
Factual error: In one episode in the hospital tent, Hawkeye hands a Hershey Chocolate Bar to a wounded soldier lying in bed. The back of the candy bar had a Universal Product Code (UPC) on it. UPCs were not used until the 1970s.
Factual error: Trapper John and Hawkeye have a still in the Swamp. Distilling gin requires water, juniper berries, flavourings, magnesium and potassium carbonate. Ordering any of these as "medical supplies" would have had both men court-martialled, as would distilling illicit alcohol in a military unit during the Koren war - with or without stolen medical supplies. The only alcohol available to them would have been via the bar in the officers' mess, and no MASH unit had one. Not one.
Factual error: Throughout the series, actors are seen wearing cuffless permapress fatigues. Neither cuffless nor permapress utilities were available until the 1970s.
Factual error: The Spot-A-Card pinball machine in the Officers' Club didn't come out until the 60's.
Factual error: Throughout the series, there are repeated instances of "I Corps" being pronounced, "Eye Corps." Since Army corps are designated by Roman numerals, it should be pronounced, "First Corps." (I wonder how they would have pronounced "III Corps" or "XVII Corps?").
Factual error: In later episodes, in the officers' club, there is a Huey helicopter hanging from the ceiling. Hueys were not put into service till three years after the war ended.
Factual error: Nearly every show depicts the use of disposable plastic syringes, which weren't introduced till 1955, two years after the war ended.
