The BEST episodes of McHale's Navy season 1
Every episode of McHale's Navy season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of McHale's Navy season 1!
A lively, light-hearted romp through the Pacific Theater of operations An experienced South Pacific Sea Dog by the name of Quinton McHale, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander into the U.S. Navy Reserve at the start of World War II, and made the Skipper of the Torpedo Patrol (PT) Boat #73 stationed at the U.S. Naval Installation on the island of Taratupa in the Southwest Pacific. Assigned to his command were 6 free-spirited, good-hearted swabbies who loved to have fun, but who, though they usually ignored Navy regulations, did their jobs and did them well when duty called. The 73 'Family' included, among others, a con man and amateur Magician, a womanizing hunk, a dedicated Family man, a guitar-playing, moonshine-making Tennessee good ol' boy, and even a deserter from the Japanese Navy, who was an excellent cook. Second in command was Ensign Charles Parker, a young spit-and-polish, by-the-book Officer from Chagrin Falls Ohio, who was somewhat of a klutz.
#1 - H.M.S. 73
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/11/1963
Binghamton schemes to get McHale chosen for a Liaison Officer's position, in Sydney, Austrailia. But, when McHale finds out that he will be going alone, and for the duration, he and his crew cook up a plan to get him off the hook.
#2 - Portrait of a Peerless Leader
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 4/25/1963
A Naval Personnel Officer is coming to check out McHale for a stateside training position. Binghamton leads McHale and his crew to believe that the Officer is coming to check out Binghamton for a promotion, and transfer, so they shape up, so that Leadbottom will ship out. But, when McHale finds out the real reason for the Officer's visit, he and his crew cook up a plan, to get him off the hook.
#3 - One Enchanted Weekend
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/28/1963
Lovely Yvette Gerard has invited Parker to join her for a weekend at her island home. When Binghamton denies him leave, McHale works up a plan for Parker to have a "working vacation" on the island, which winds up with an unexpected bonus.
#4 - Alias Captain Binghamton
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 5/16/1963
The 73 gets a new crew member, who turns out to be a trouble-maker. McHale and the 73 crew cook up a wild plan to get rid of him, but, when their plan backfires, they find themselves in hot water again. So, they turn to their new Crewman, and use his special physical qualities to their advantage.
#5 - The Monster of McHale's Island
Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/13/1963
A Navy transport plane develops engine trouble, and is forced down at Taratupa. One of its passengers is an Admiral's Son, and a strict, by-the-book disciplinarian, as well as a spoiled brat. Binghamton sees to it that the kid is quartered on McHale's island, where he and his "little black book" cause quite a bit of trouble for McHale and his Crew. But McHale is soon fed up with the brat and takes matters into his own hands.
#6 - The Day They Captured Santa Claus
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/27/1962
Mchale decides for Christmas he and the crew of PT-73 will pay a visit to Sister Monique and the children dressed up in a Santa Claus outfit and elf outfits. Mchale would parachute from a plane first and meet the kids and PT-73 would follow a little while after. Mchale jumps in his Santa outfit but when he lands he finds the island was overtaken by Japanese and was captured. Mchale as usual cons his way through the interrogation and he claims that a new secret weapon is on it's way, just then PT-73 arrives singing Christmas carols and dressed in elf outfits. The Japanese commander becomes scared fearing that this was some kind new of physiological warfare and he surrenders.
#7 - Movies Are Your Best Diversion
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/8/1962
When McHale and his men are assigned the duty of averting a Japanese attack on a US convoy, they use the soundtracks of movies starring John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, and Errol Flynn to confuse the enemies.
#8 - The Battle of McHale's Island
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/20/1962
McHale and the boys cook up a scheme to keep Binghamton from building a new Officer's Club on McHale's island.
#9 - The Confidence Game
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/28/1963
Parker requests a transfer, when he feels he's not getting the respect he deserves. So, to change his mind, and build up his self-confidence, McHale puts him in charge of an important test mission.
#10 - A Purple Heart for Gruber
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/18/1962
Lester Gruber has been given the job of laundering Captain Binghamton's uniforms. When a Japanese sub fires on the PT 73, the uniforms are destroyed, and Lester's finger is scratched, prompting him to put in for a Purple Heart.
#11 - McHale's Millions
Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 5/30/1963
The 73 Crew investigates the crash site of a Japanese transport plane, which is loaded with 4 million dollars' worth of American currency. McHale convinces the boys that the bills are counterfeit, and, later, Gruber trades the supposedly phony money to Urulu, for some island trinkets. But when they find out that the money is real, McHale and The Crew must scheme to get it back.
#12 - Camera, Action, Panic
Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 5/9/1963
A Combat Photographer comes to Taratupa, to film a P.T. crew in action. But trouble erupts, when Gruber swipes the Photographer's movie camera, for a little private enterprise. McHale and the 73 crew then have to scheme, to cover their own behinds, as well as the Photographer's.
#13 - The Hillbillies of PT 73
Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/6/1963
Willy is devastated when he gets a letter from his best girl “ Back home, in the hills of Tennessee“ Informing him that she's marrying another man. So, McHale and the 73 Crew go all out to pick up his spirits. But Captain Binghamton wants everyone on their best behavior for the upcoming inspection tour of a certain budget-conscious V.I.P.
#14 - McHale's Paradise Motel
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/1962
Binghamton sends McHale and The 73 Crew on a recon mission to a supposedly deserted island, where they make a "home away from home" to enjoy themselves, away from the base. But, the U.S. Navy, as well as the Japanese, become suspicious, when they observe unusual activity on the island.
#15 - Nippon Nancy Calling
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/21/1963
When a Japanese radio announcer broadcasts details about Captain Binghamton that only someone close to him would know, Binghamton immediately suspects McHale and The 73 Crew, and enlists Parker's aid in nailing the traitor.
#16 - The Captain Steals a Cook
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/24/1963
Another of Gruber's shady enterprises backfires, when Binghamton gets a taste of the delicious Polynesian cuisine that Fuji has been cooking up, for sale to the base personnel.
#17 - Uncle Admiral
Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/27/1963
An Admiral from Naval Operations “ Who just happens to be a ranking member of the Promotions Board“ Is stopping in, briefly, at Taratupa, and Captain Binghamton dreams of Admiral's stars, especially when he learns that the Admiral has a very close relative stationed on Taratupa.
#18 - McHale and His Seven Cupids
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/25/1962
McHale decides that what Ensign Parker really needs is a girl friend. He convinces Parker that he is suffering from an advanced case of battle fatigue so that he can be sent to the hospital, where McHale hopes that he will find Nurse Casey Brown to his liking.
#19 - Six Pounds from Paradise
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/7/1963
The Navy has issued a directive stating that all overweight Combat Officers will be shipped out, and, when Binghamton goes all out to see that McHale goes over the weight limit, the boys cook up a plan to keep him with them.
#20 - Three Girls on an Island
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/29/1962
A plane with the Singing Tyler Sisters aboard is forced down with engine trouble on a deserted island. McHale and The 73 Crew are sent to pick them up, with more than their rescue on their minds, but wind up being quite disappointed.
#21 - Who Do the Voodoo?
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/22/1962
Chief Urulu demands monetary compensation from the Navy, for destroying the coconut trees on his island, and puts a curse on Binghamton, when he refuses to pay.
#22 - Send Us a Hero
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/17/1963
A U.S. Congresswoman comes to Taratupa, to find a War Hero to take on a Stateside War Bond tour, and Parker and the boys help McHale to get chosen for the job, thinking that they will be going along.
#23 - Operation Wedding Party
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/15/1962
McHale tries to figure out a way for Christy and his true love, Lt. Gloria Winters, to get married, even though it is against regulations for an officer to marry an enlisted man. But the lovebirds have even more problems: Binghamton schedules maneuvers on the evening of the wedding, and the Japanese schedule an all-out battle.
#24 - An Ensign for McHale
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/1962
Ensign Charles Parker reports for duty as the new Executive Officer of the PT 73, to a not-so-warm welcome from McHale and The Crew. But McHale is soon impressed by the Ensign, and persuades the boys to shape up, so that Parker can stay on as XO.
#25 - PT 73, Where Are You?
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/1/1962
Binghamton grants McHale and the 73 Crew a week's liberty in New Caledonia, but they must postpone their trip, when the 73 turns up missing, and they have to scheme to get a replacement.