1941

On December 13, 1941, a young woman swimming alone on a beach in northern California unexpectedly encounters the Japanese submarine I-19 surfacing beneath her. As she clings to the periscope, the submarine's commander, Akiro Mitamura, emerges with his crew, setting the stage for a daring mission along the U.S. West Coast.

Commander Mitamura informs German naval captain Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt of their intention to strike at honorable targets along the coast. After some bickering, they agree to target Hollywood, hoping to evade detection while undocking from their submarine.

In Los Angeles, dishwasher Wally Stephens shares his aspirations to enter a dance contest with his ex-girlfriend Betty. However, tensions rise when tank crew chief Sgt. Frank Tree's men confront Wally, leading to a scuffle that reveals Wally's troubled past.

After persistently trying to secure a night off, Wally and his friend Dennis are both fired from their jobs at the diner. This dismissal intensifies Wally's desperation to reconnect with Betty and impress her.

Betty Douglas and her friend Maxine engage in rigorous training to become taxi girl dancers for an upcoming USO show. Meanwhile, Wally is growing increasingly frustrated with their obstacles to investing in the dance contest while he plots to steal a zoot suit.

Captain Wild Bill Kelso, a manic US Army pilot, lands his stolen fighter plane at a gas station in Death Valley. In a chaotic turn of events, he accidentally blows up the station while attempting to take off after refueling.

Major General Joseph Stilwell faces the chaos unfolding in Los Angeles amid war hysteria. As he tries to maintain order, his secretary Donna and assistant Captain Loomis Birkhead's playful antics lead to a mishap involving a bomb, causing a panic during a press conference.

Wally, dressed in his stolen zoot suit, faces Mr. Douglas's anger over his past mistakes while seeking to ask Betty out. Amid escalating tensions, Wally gets involved in fateful events that lead to a series of confrontations and misunderstandings.

The crew of the Japanese submarine I-19 becomes disoriented as their compass fails. Commander Mitamura dispatches a landing party to capture a local timber merchant, leading to an unusual exchange and unexpected trouble for the captors.

A wild brawl erupts at a Los Angeles nightclub when Wally, attempting to impress Betty, gets entangled with Sitarski and the military guards. Amidst the chaos, Wally's efforts take a disastrous turn as the riot spills out into the streets.

Captain Birkhead's desire to impress Donna leads them to steal an old transport plane. However, their lack of communication and impending danger only complicate their adventurous miscalculations.

A civil defense radar spots an unknown aircraft, prompting a red alert in Los Angeles. As Birkhead and Donna fly overhead, they inadvertently attract enemy fire, leading to a series of chaotic events that escalate the tension in the city.

Determined to confront the submarine, Wally commandeers a tank after hearing about the submarine's position. Alongside a motley crew, they make their way towards the I-19, igniting a frenetic chase through the streets.

Wally, his crew, and Wild Bill engage in a chaotic showdown against the Japanese submarine. Misfire and pandemonium ensue as they try to neutralize the threat while dealing with their own hilarious misadventures.

The following morning, General Stilwell gathers the chaos-stricken crew recounting their wild experiences from the previous night. As they assess the aftermath, buried tensions and playful banter reveal a comical yet profound commentary on the absurdity of war.