1941 (1979) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Commander Mitamura explains that they chose Hollywood as their target to strike at a symbol of American pride along the West Coast. The sub had evaded detection during the chaos following Pearl Harbor and selected Hollywood as a high-profile psychological target rather than a strategic military installation.

• japanese submarine
• hollywood
• commander mitamura
• target

Sitarski developed strong animosity toward Wally because of Wally's shady past as a juvenile delinquent. When Wally tried to pursue Betty Douglas, Sitarski's hostility was fueled by knowledge of Wally's criminal history, leading to the initial confrontation at the diner.

• wally stephens
• sitarski
• betty douglas
• juvenile delinquent

A civil defense radar spotted an unknown aircraft approaching Los Angeles, prompting the red alert. This aircraft was actually Captain Birkhead and Donna Stratten stolen transport plane, which inadvertently attracted enemy fire and escalated the city's panic during the night of chaos.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Birkhead and Donna stole an old transport plane from Barstow Air Force Base to pursue their airborne adventure.

• civil defense
• red alert
• los angeles
• aircraft
• birkhead

After hearing about the Japanese submarine's position in the area, Wally commandeered a tank out of desperation to confront the threat and prove himself worthy to Betty Douglas. His impulsive nature and desire to reclaim his honor drove him to take this heroic but disastrous action.

Foreshadowing: Wally's desperation to impress Betty had been building throughout the film, as seen in his failed attempts to get a zoot suit and enter the dance contest.

• wally stephens
• tank
• submarine
• betty douglas

Wally and Dennis were fired from the diner after persistently trying to secure a night off. This dismissal intensified Wally's desperation to reconnect with Betty and pursue his dream of entering the dance contest, setting up his later increasingly reckless behavior.

• wally stephens
• diner
• fired
• dennis

Captain Birkhead, desperate to impress Donna, convinced her to steal an old transport plane from Barstow Air Force Base. Their lack of flying experience and communication led to their aircraft being mistaken for an enemy threat, inadvertently causing the civil defense panic.

Foreshadowing: Birkhead had been making outlandish attempts to woo Donna throughout the movie, including a disastrous airborne press conference.

• birkhead
• donna
• plane
• steal
• barstow

The Japanese submarine I-19 became disoriented when its compass failed. After dispatching a landing party to capture a local timber merchant for directions, the submarine eventually surfaced at the amusement park pier where it confronted Wally, Wild Bill, and their crew in the final chaotic showdown.

Foreshadowing: The compass failure was referenced when the sub crew realized they were lost along the California coast.

• i-19
• japanese submarine
• compass
• amusement park

Captain Wild Bill Kelso, portrayed as a reckless US Army Air Force officer, stole a P-40 fighter plane and crash-landed it at a gas station in Death Valley while attempting to refuel. His chaotic attempt to take off again resulted in accidentally blowing up the station in a fiery explosion.

• wild bill kelso
• p-40
• death valley
• gas station

After their compass failed and they became lost along the California coast, Commander Mitamura dispatched a landing party to capture a local timber merchant. The crew needed the merchant to determine their location and get directions, leading to an unusual exchange that caused unexpected trouble for the captors.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the submarine crew had discussed becoming disoriented after their compass malfunctioned.

• timber merchant
• compass
• submarine
• lost

The fight erupted when Sgt. Frank Tree's tank crew confronted Wally after he shared his ambitions to enter the dance contest with his former love Betty. Tensions rose due to Wally's shady past, and Sitarski's personal animosity toward Wally fueled the scuffle that revealed Wally's juvenile delinquent history.

• sgt frank tree
• tank crew
• diner
• fight
• betty

Wally went on a shopping spree to buy the perfect zoot suit to impress Betty. When trapped by store security, he devised a humorous plan using an air raid siren as a distraction to make his theatrical escape from the department store with the suit.

• zoot suit
• department store
• air raid siren
• wally

The final confrontation took place at the amusement park pier where Wally, his crew, and Wild Bill engaged in a chaotic battle against the Japanese submarine. Misfires and pandemonium ensued as they tried to neutralize the submarine threat while dealing with their own hilarious misadventures, ultimately resolving the immediate invasion threat comedically.

Foreshadowing: The sub had been heading toward the Hollywood coastline since its initial appearance.

• amusement park pier
• final battle
• submarine
• wild bill