This episode was originally to be the opener for season 4 and to be played out pretty much as it did with the only difference in the original story being Trapper John at the 4077th rather than BJ Hunnicutt, thus having Col. Potter meeting the well famous duo of Hawkeye and Trapper. But shortly before filming for season 4 began, Wayne Rogers had decided to leave the series following a contract dispute, thus leading the producers to hire Mike Farrell and write off Rogers' character of Trapper and bring in Farrell's character,Capt. McIntyre's replacement Capt. BJ Hunnicutt in what ended up being the season 4 opener and predecessor to this episode, "Welcome to Korea."
The portrait of Mrs. Potter on the Colonel's desk is Harry Morgan's real life wife. It remains there for the rest of the series.
Potter's saddle is the M1904 McClellan, the standard military saddle used in WWI.
At the end of the previous segment, "Welcome to Korea", the P.A. announcement reports Col. Sherman Potter will arrive and take command of the 4077th on 19 Sept (1952). This segment, which introduces Potter, originally aired 19 Sept (1975).
In The Bus (1975) (s4 e6), it is stated that Cap Hunnicutt spent a week under Major Burns command before Col Potter assumed command.