McHale's Navy is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired half-hour episodes over four seasons, from October 11, , to April 12, , on the ABC television network. The series was filmed in black and white and originated from a one-hour drama titled "Seven Against the Sea", broadcast on April 3, , as part of the Alcoa Premiere anthology series.
In the late spring of , the Japanese heavily bomb the island, destroying the base. Only 18 of naval aviators and Marines on the base survive.
With Japanese patrols in the region too heavy for a Navy rescue mission, McHale and his men survive by hiding on the island. Assisted by the native tribes whom they befriend, the sailors live a pleasant island existence. After months of leisurely life, strait-laced, by-the-book Annapolis graduate Lieutenant Durham Ron Foster parachutes onto the island. His job is to assume duties as McHale's executive officer and help him get the base on Taratupa back into action.
Durham faces an uphill battle: the men have gone native. One man has started a native laundry service, and McHale operates a still , making moonshine for the men and the natives. In addition, McHale is friendly with the native chief; the two even bathe in the same room, attended to by one of the chief's wives.
It is clear that while McHale is as loyal as any American, following the devastation caused by the Japanese on the island, he is reluctant to risk losing more men.
