Ep 1. The General Flipped at Dawn

The General Flipped at Dawn is the first episode of the third season of the popular TV show M*A*S*H, which aired on September 10, 1974, on CBS. The episode continues the story of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, stationed in Korea during the Korean War.

The episode starts off with the arrival of General Steele, who is inspecting the medical facilities in the area. But things go awry when the General's jeep collides with a mine. Though the accident wasn't fatal, it did cause General Steele to lose his bearings, prompting him to become convinced that he is a combat soldier. This leads to several problems between General Steele and the staff of the 4077th.

As General Steele starts to behave erratically, he demands that the camp prepare for an attack, but everyone assures him that there is no such risk. This leads to several comic situations, including the General ordering the construction of a useless barricade and insisting that a soldier plays dead in order to simulate casualties.

The General's erratic behavior soon becomes a cause of concern for Colonel Potter, who becomes even more worried when he realizes that General Steele is withholding food and medical supplies from the wounded. To make matters worse, the General decides to go on a solo mission to find the enemy and ends up getting captured.

The camp comes up with an elaborate plan to get the General out of enemy hands, but they get a surprise when it is revealed that General Steele had not been captured after all but had surrendered to the enemy. This turn of events puts everyone's lives in danger, and the surgical team's skill and courage are put to the test.

The episode eventually comes to an end with the team once again proving their mettle as they manage to retrieve General Steele and save his life. As the General recovers from his wounds, he returns to his senses and expresses gratitude towards the staff of the 4077th but secretly wishes to leave the camp and forget about the entire incident.

Overall, The General Flipped at Dawn is an excellent episode that showcases the brilliance of the actors and writers of M*A*S*H. The episode offers humor, drama, and shows the horrors of war. It is a classic example of how the show tackled serious issues while still being funny and entertaining.