
04/02/2025
MASH gave little glimpses into Frank's humanity, but he was often played as the buffoon. His affair with Margaret was a recurring story throughout the early years, though when his wife eventually found out and demanded a divorce, their romance was doomed. Margaret's engagement in the episode of the same name ruled out any chance of a reconciliation between her and Burns, which saw Frank unravel throughout season 5.
Frank's last episode was the series 5 finale ""Margaret's Marriage,"" where Margaret marries Lt. Col. Donald Penobscott (Beeson Carroll). When they fly off for their honeymoon, Burns watches the helicopter leave and sadly bids Margaret farewell.
It's then revealed in season 6's first episode that Burns went missing in Seoul due to heartache over Margaret, and after some wild incidents, was arrested by MPs. Instead of being sent back to the 4077th, it was decided to send Burns back to America. In the same episode, his replacement Charles Emerson Wi******er III (David Ogden Stiers) arrived and remained part of the cast until MASH's finale.